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As a child I, like many other children, hated needles. When it came time to go to the doctor for any ailment I began to get nervous and fearful of getting a shot. I remember the anticipation of the pain. I would begin to visualize and “feel” the pain of the shot before the needle was anywhere near my rear end. The fear completely consumed me and even made things worse physically and emotionally. As the shot neared my body I would begin to tense up (the worst thing you can do as the needle makes its way into the body). 

As a grown adult I now realize the fear of getting the shot actually leads to more pain. The fear that led to the emotional distress and physical tension actually did more harm than good. It made the shot worse! No more do I panic as the needle approaches. I’ve even come to realize the shot works much faster than medicine so I will actually request the doctor give me a shot because I know it helps me get over the sickness quicker. The moral of this story is that fear is normal but how we deal with it greatly influences the outcome. 

In Isaiah chapter 35-38, King Hezekiah is faced with the fear of a different type. The Assyrian King sends word that he will destroy Jerusalem completely. This is not just a shot at the doctor’s office, but a threat to completely destroy a city and a Kingdom. The fear factor in this situation is real. Isaiah 37:10-11 says, “Say to Hezekiah King of Judah: Do not let the god you depend on deceive you when he says, ‘Jerusalem will not be given into the hands of the king of Assyria.’ Surely you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the countries, destroying them completely. And will you be delivered?” These words were meant to cause fear but it is Hezekiah’s response to the fear that changes the outcome. Instead of wallowing in his fear he goes straight to God, turning fear into confidence. In the end, the Kind of Assyria is defeated and he himself is killed in the process. 

As Christians we must not live in fear. For all the fears and anxieties the world may throw at us our God has already won. We have the winning formula, we just have to believe it. Seek him first and our fear will be washed away!

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