Do Not Fear: Valued, Seen, & Chosen

In my last post, I started a series on the instances the Bible says to not fear and how we can walk in peace knowing God’s presence is always with us, no matter where we go. The promises God gave in the Old Testament are not the only promises given. Jesus also promised His disciples they are valued, seen, and chosen—and as His disciples today, we can carry those same truths wherever we go. 

We can know we are valued and seen because Jesus says in Luke 12:7, “Indeed, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.” In this portion of Scripture, Jesus teaches His disciples to be on guard against the Pharisees’ teaching and alludes to the persecution they will face. Since we too will face some sort of persecution and are taught to “test the spirits” (1 John 4:1), I believe this can be applied to us as well. 

We may or may not face severe persecution, but when we do, we can know the Lord sees us in the midst of it. My parents faced persecution in Russia during communism, and grew up in an underground church. Because they were children and in school when persecution was severe, they’ve gotten bad grades just because of their faith, they’ve been made fun of, have had their homes (or the homes of those they knew) raided, have had church services in the woods instead of in the building to avoid interruptions from soldiers and those who worked for the Communist Party. My grandparents also faced persecution on top of war, and through it all, the Lord has seen them and has protected them. 

Persecution is hard, but the Lord rewards those who face it faithfully: “Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, so that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10; see also Matthew 5:10–12). Even though persecution is currently going on in different parts of the world, it’s difficult to know what it’s really like until it’s experienced. Dr. Andrew Brunson is a pastor who was in solitary confinement in Turkey and was released a few years ago. Upon his release, he created a series on how to stand in the face of persecution. You can find the entire series here. I believe all believers should be prepared for what’s coming. 

My parents, grandparents, and relatives have made a point to say that God showed His kindness and protection, even during one of the hardest times of their lives. He knows every single detail of all of our lives because He created us. Psalm 139 says, “You knit me together in my mother’s womb. … My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw me when I was unformed, and in Your book were written the days that were formed—when not one of them had come to be” (vv. 13, 15–16). 

Nothing about our lives surprises Him—from the details of who we are to the days we face, He has already been there.

Though He also created the world (Genesis 1), He holds His people at a higher value—promising that He sees us no matter what we’re going through, whether it be something as big as persecution or something on a smaller scale. He cares for each one of us, individually, as we are and wants us to hold fast to Him, to not fear in the face of our circumstances.

I’ll admit, that’s easier said than done most times, however, if I trust the Lord completely, I can trust that He will take care of me no matter what. I can rest in the promise that because He knows me, sees me, values me, I don’t have to fear in any situation or circumstance. That’s freedom! 

If you continue reading through Luke 12, there’s another verse where Jesus tells us to not fear: “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father chose to give you the kingdom” (v. 32). Friends, we are chosen. Chosen to receive the kingdom because He will take care of us, down to what we will eat, drink, and wear. Our great reward is Jesus—and He’s chosen to give us the kingdom! We will one day reign with Him (2 Timothy 2:12), and until that happens, we have access to Him because of what He’s done for us on the cross (Hebrews 4:14–16, Hebrews 7:25; Romans 8:34; Philippians 2:6–11). 

As His sheep, we really have no reason to fear because He is our Good Shepherd (John 10:11), He is the Door (John 10:7, 9), and He is our security and we are His possession (Ephesians 1:3–14). In Colossians it says, “For by Him all things were created—in heaven and on earth, the seen and the unseen … . He exists before everything, and in Him all holds together” (vv. 16–17). We can find complete satisfaction in Him alone because He existed before all and exists in all things. As believers, our lives are in Him—fully and completely. 

The Lord cares more than we know, and out of His perfect love for us, He casts out all fear (1 John 4:18). We can trust that we are valued, seen, and chosen to live in complete freedom, regardless of our circumstances and what needs we may have. He fulfills us spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally, and practically. We can take on life in this world and all that comes with it in complete and perfect peace (Isaiah 26:3; Philippians 4:7), knowing He is the One who goes before us (Deuteronomy 31:8). Be blessed, my friends.

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“Therefore as you received Messiah Yeshua as Lord, so continue to walk in Him—rooted and built up in Him and established in your faith just as your were taught, overflowing with thankfulness.”

—Colossians 2:6–7

Scripture taken from the Holy Scriptures, Tree of Life Version*. Copyright © 2014, 2016 by the Tree of Life Bible Society. Used by permission of the Tree of Life Bible Society.