“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” JOHN 6:63 ESV 

“Shruthi, I don’t mean this in any negative way, but I want to know why you didn’t terminate your pregnancy after you first got your daughter’s Down syndrome diagnosis?” One of the most incredible comforts in knowing Jesus is that we don’t make moves in fear. Fear can come close to you; it might even think it has you cornered, but fear has no actual grip on us who abide in Christ. It wants us to forsake our faith and run around in paths of panic. It wants you to lose sight of the fact that there is a faithful and just God who works everything together for your good. Fear wants you to ruminate, hesitate, and deteriorate. 

The number of people who asked me that question in the first line of this page would surprise you, but more than being offended, I was heartbroken to see them living in such bottomless fear. Either we believe God will never forsake us as the Scripture says and will always make a way, as He did with the Israelites coming out of Egypt and Christ on the cross, or we don’t. Not only do we not make decisions out of fear, but we also have access to the Holy Spir-it, who can give us the fruit of the Spirit (including peace, faithfulness, and goodness) in any circumstance. How? By dwelling in the Holy Spirit through the words of Christ. Je-sus says, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life” (John 6:63). So dwell in Christ’s words, friend! It is not simply a discipline in the Christian’s life. When fear is chasing you down and roaring in your ears, reading our Bibles could make the difference between life and death. 

Lord, I don’t want to waste a single second of my day in a filter of fear. Help me, through Your Holy Spirit, to live with peace, faithfulness, and goodness no matter what comes my way. Help me trust that You are with me and will never forsake me. Amen. 

Lord, I don’t want to waste a single second of my day in a filter of fear. Help me, through Your Holy Spirit, to live with peace, faithfulness, and goodness no matter what comes my way. Help me trust that You are with me and will never forsake me. Amen. 

REFLECT: What role does fear play in your day-to-day decisions? Is it a significant motivator, a mediocre meddler, or a stranger you let pass through but not stay for a visit? 

This is an excerpt from Living Open-Handed: Devotions for Surrendering Control and Finding Joy in the Unexpected by Shruthi Parker – a devotional now available on DaySpring.com. Shop all books, journals, and devotions from DaySpring here.