From the devotional "The Upper Room"
FEAR AND TRUST
Read Ezra 3:1-11
"Despite their fear of the peoples around them, they built the altar." Ezra 3:3
"Trust me. Give it one more shot." My teacher was encouraging me to go to the second practice of our school's jazz band. During the first practice, he had handed out music I thought was too hard. I was afraid to fail, to embarrass myself in front of the group. After a lot of coaxing, I agreed to try one more time.
The second practice was much better, and I have continued to play the trumpet ever since. Playing in the band gave me confidence to do things I might never have considered. I'm glad I went-even though I was afraid.
My fear seems insignificant when compared to the fear the Israelite exiles felt as they returned to Jerusalem in the sixth-century BC. Their ancestors had been taken as prisoners of war decades before, but this was no joyful homecoming. The residents of the city were openly hostile to them, and the situation had become very tense. In order to worship they would need to build an altar, risking bodily harm and perhaps death. Still, they chose to worship God.
All of us experience fear of some kind. Yet, the Israelites can inspire us to trust God. They were afraid, but they overcame their fear. If they could trust God in the midst of great danger, so can we.
When we face fear, God is with us.
FEAR AND TRUST
Read Ezra 3:1-11
"Despite their fear of the peoples around them, they built the altar." Ezra 3:3
"Trust me. Give it one more shot." My teacher was encouraging me to go to the second practice of our school's jazz band. During the first practice, he had handed out music I thought was too hard. I was afraid to fail, to embarrass myself in front of the group. After a lot of coaxing, I agreed to try one more time.
The second practice was much better, and I have continued to play the trumpet ever since. Playing in the band gave me confidence to do things I might never have considered. I'm glad I went-even though I was afraid.
My fear seems insignificant when compared to the fear the Israelite exiles felt as they returned to Jerusalem in the sixth-century BC. Their ancestors had been taken as prisoners of war decades before, but this was no joyful homecoming. The residents of the city were openly hostile to them, and the situation had become very tense. In order to worship they would need to build an altar, risking bodily harm and perhaps death. Still, they chose to worship God.
All of us experience fear of some kind. Yet, the Israelites can inspire us to trust God. They were afraid, but they overcame their fear. If they could trust God in the midst of great danger, so can we.
When we face fear, God is with us.