“Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer.” —Revelation 2:10
Christ’s words to the first-century church in Smyrna are reassuring to those of any era. They speak to each of us as we face painful losses, harrowing challenges, and unsettling threats to our norms and preferences.
Our hearts are so prone to fear. We fear what we don’t know. We fear what we do know. We fear things that are happening now, things that might happen in the future. The word for fear in Revelation 2:10 is one from which we derive our word phobia, originally meaning “to be put to flight.” The specter or presence of trouble makes us want to run and hide.
But as followers of Christ, we don’t have to live on the run. For if we appropriately fear God, we have no need to fear the threats of man, the valley of suffering, or the shadow of death. Wherever we go, whatever we do, our God is there with us. He “know[s] your affliction” (Rev. 2:9), and His promises will prove to be stronger than whatever pressures or losses may lie ahead.
Make it Personal
What concerns give you the most reason for fear? How can you choose to trust that you are safely in His hands?