Let not your heart be . . . afraid

Jesus Christ taught his disciples:  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27)  Of the last line of this scripture, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said:  I submit to you that may be one of the Savior’s commandments that is, even in the hearts of otherwise faithful Latter-day Saints, almost universally disobeyed.

The Lord doesn’t want us to let our hearts be troubled or afraid.  For a perfectionist, that’s easier said than done.  Fear is at the core of our struggle.  Fear of not being worthy of love or acceptance.  

Elder David A. Bednar taught:
As we consider so many of the things that are occurring all around us today, we could perhaps find ample reasons to be afraid, to hesitate, and to wonder if things in our lives can indeed turn out the way we have long hoped they would turn out.

To not take counsel from our fears simply means that we do not permit fear and uncertainty to determine our course in life, to affect negatively our attitudes and behavior, to influence improperly our important decisions, or to divert or distract us from all in this world that is virtuous, lovely, or of good report. 

To not take counsel from our fears means that faith in the Lord Jesus Christ overrules our fears and that we press forward with a steadfastness in Him. 

To not take counsel from our fears means that we trust in God’s guidance, assurance, and timing in our lives. 

I promise each of us can and will be blessed with direction, protection, and lasting joy as we learn to not take counsel from our fears. As we exercise faith in Christ and trust in His promises, we can walk into the dark with the absolute assurance that our pathway will be illuminated at least far enough to take the next step and then the next step and the next step.

Fear is one of the enemy’s greatest weapons.  And he’s wielding it with a vengeance right now in the world.  

When the Savior says, “my peace I give unto you,” he means it.  It’s a gift. You don’t need to earn it.  You just need to receive it.  And that’s a topic for another time.  

To be continued . . . with Part 61