Scriptures hold many messages — messages of love, instruction, correction, comfort. But one message is pronounced over and over again, a message that comes straight from God’s heart, delivered over the centuries by prophets, by angels, and even by Jesus himself: Be not afraid.

God’s good news is a message of hope! The prophet Isaiah commanded the people of God to be messengers, to proclaim strength and salvation to the fearful and frightened. To preach “Be not afraid!”

Be not afraid, because when God comes, you’ll finally be able to see, and hear, and dance, and sing. When God comes, you’ll no longer be lost. When God comes, you’ll no longer be parched; instead you’ll well up, and overflow.

When we offer up our voices and hearts and hands to help, to encourage, to lift up, we are proclaiming this good news: Be not afraid, because in the voices and hearts and hands of God’s people, your God is already here!

By Nikki Finkelstein-Blair from d365.org