Fear is an emotional state that can lead to panic. It is a natural reaction to things that threaten us, things we cannot understand, things that can harm. Our world is filled with things that potentially could threaten us. Our world is filled with things we do not understand at first glance. Our world is filled with things that might or might not cause us harm.

But, the world is also filled with things that nurture and feed us. The world is filled with things we come to know and love. The world is filled with things that help us.

“Do Not Fear” is not shared as a polite request, nor does God try to explain to us why fear doesn’t lead to positive and loving actions. God commands us, “Do not fear.” God’s reason is simple. He tells us, “I am with you.”

The Lord also tells us, “do not be dismayed.” The word dismay means to be stripped of our strength. Do not allow the world and the unknown to strip away the strength that is with us if we allow it. Do not let the absence of understanding lead us to weak actions and words.

God knows that humans’ first response is often negative- filled with fear, filled with resistance, filled with helplessness. So what is his advice? As any parent might do, God encourages.

When something happens, when something appears, when we face an unknown, stop and gather the strength of God that is all around you. Stop, look, and listen. God will show you, lead you, and strengthen you. The way forward may be challenging, but each step can be filled with the love and support of our Father. If we stop for a moment, breathe in, and exhale a prayer, then may we be filled with the love, strength, and grace of our Lord that will allow us to respond in love and not in fear of the unknown path before us. If we open our eyes, heart, and mind to what God shares with us, then we will get to know and understand what lies before us. We can use that understanding to react with grace and love instead of fear and hate.

Today, let us pray together a prayer we can repeat in each moment where we feel fear and dismay. Father, in moments where we feel weak, help us to still our heart and breathe in. In that breath, fill us with Your spirit, and may we exhale a prayer that You will guide us and strengthen us. In all moments, help us see Your love all around us so that we do not fear what we do not understand. Amen.

This devotion was written by Jill Pope and read by Susan Daves.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: podcasts@1stchurch.org.

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

Nothing encourages me more than to think that I have been adopted into the family of God. And nothing challenges me more than to think that I have been adopted into the family of God.

We who have received the gift of the Holy Spirit are the children of God. No longer slaves, we have been adopted. By grace, we call God, “Daddy,” and Jesus, “Brother.” This means that we are co-heirs with Christ and God says to us, “Everything I have is yours.” But it also means that just as Christ suffered with us, we must suffer with Christ.

Living in this world is hard. Life is messy. Relationships are messy. We seek certainty and direction. We want to find something we can count on. We want things to be clear—right or wrong, good or bad. But if we are paying attention, we know that few things are certain, and few things are “all” or “nothing.”

Being part of a family requires wrestling through the uncertainty, complications, and messiness of life together. Families suffer together, and families celebrate together. And this is what it’s like to be part of God’s family, too. It means that we are accepted, and loved, and that we will always have a place to belong, but it doesn’t mean that life will be easy, or that we’ll always get along.

This scripture passage suggests to me that entering into all of the complicated mess of this world is the pathway to joy and peace. Jesus did not avoid life’s messiness or its complications or conflict. Jesus entered into suffering—not only the suffering of the cross, but the suffering of the world. And therein lies Christ’s glory. As this scripture says, we also share in Christ’s sufferings SO THAT we may also share in his glory. As the family of God, we share in one another’s, too.

God, thank you for adopting me into your family. Let me not forget your love for all of my brothers and sisters. Use me this day to be an encouragement to someone else, and allow me to be challenged to love more fully, even when it’s difficult. May I truly share in Christ’s sufferings that I may also share in his glory. Amen.

This devotion was written and read by Greta Smith.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: podcasts@1stchurch.org.

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.

Welcome to the Saturday episode of the Grace for All podcast. Thank you for joining us today. Saturday is a special time when we take a few moments to review the scriptures that we have cited in the episodes this week.

If you missed any of those episodes, you might want to consider listening to them today. And even if you heard them all, there may be one that you might want to listen to again. We hope that each of these scriptures and podcasts will bring you a full measure of joy, peace, and love.

Now, let's listen to the scriptures that have been on our hearts this week.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: podcasts@1stchurch.org.

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.