Since then the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death – that is, the devil – and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.   Hebrews 2: 14-15

Jesus took on flesh and blood because of His desire to share in our humanity.  He took on the yucky things about being human – sin, sickness, disease, lack and even death, so that we could be set free from them. And free from the fear that comes with them.

 Ever notice when you are facing something scary – a new diagnosis, another round of tests, a new symptom, a financial turn, a relationship problem, when the doctor calls and says, “we need to talk” how quickly fear comes in, how loudly it can scream?

A little girl I worked with was scheduled for dental surgery and for the week leading up to the surgery she kept saying how scared she was about it all. I kept trying to encourage her and told her how it won’t be as bad as she fears but I nothing I said calmed her fears.  When she finally had the surgery done, she was so relieved.  It didn’t hurt like she thought, in fact, she said she hardly had any pain at all!  Her fear was greater than the actual surgery.  For me, that is always the case.  My fear of some impending doom has always been greater than the actual event.  I have heard fear defined as:

False Evidence Appearing Real.

A smoke screen.

We read in Eccelestiates that there is a time to be born and a time to die but we don’t have to live our lives in fear of death.  Every kind of pain, sickness, and disease are forms of death and God dealt with death when Jesus died on the cross and three days later rose to live forever. Death has lost its sting, we are free at last!  Yes, one day we will die, but until then by His grace, we can live without fear of what tomorrow holds if we trust in the One who holds tomorrow.

Jesus, thank You, for taking on my humanity and all the yuckiness that sometimes means.  Thank You for carrying the burdens I can’t and for releasing me from the fear of them.  Help me to walk in light of that truth and when fear comes against me, whisper to me “fear not”, remind me that You are my pathway to peace.  When I think of how much You love me, I am in awe of You all over again.  Amen.

I would love to hear from you.  Please let me know if I can be praying for you as well.