Afraid Yet Filled with Joy— Two2Grow, June 26
Afraid Yet Filled with Joy— Two2Grow, June 26
“So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.” Matthew 28:8 NIV
A post by Emelie Stenhammar, MD
At the word of the angel of the Lord, the women left the tomb where they had been looking for Jesus’ body and went to tell the other disciples of His resurrection. They were given a commission from the angel to be the first witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection. They were afraid, probably both from meeting the angel (the soldiers were so afraid that “they shook and became like dead men”), but also because their Lord had just been executed and His followers might be the next targets.
They did not let that fear hinder them, though, from doing what the Lord had asked them to do. And as they journeyed on in fear and joy, Jesus met them on the road. Jesus told them not to be afraid, and we know that at His word, fear leaves.
In our lives, Mikael and I have many times been asked by Jesus to do things that have been beyond our capacity, outside our comfort zone, and that have made us afraid. But as we have stepped out on His word, afraid yet filled with the joy and excitement that come from living a life led by the Spirit, God has always met us on the road, spoken peace over us, and chased away our fear.
If we want to wait to obey the Lord until all our fear is gone, we will not be able to be of much use for the Kingdom. But if we choose faith over fear, if we do it afraid, we will, like the women, meet Jesus on the road. He will speak peace over us and empower us for the task He has set before us.
Jesus, I pray that I, like the women, will respond in obedience to Your call, even if I am afraid, knowing that You will meet me on the road and speak Your peace over my life.
A post by Emelie Stenhammar, MD
At the word of the angel of the Lord, the women left the tomb where they had been looking for Jesus’ body and went to tell the other disciples of His resurrection. They were given a commission from the angel to be the first witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection. They were afraid, probably both from meeting the angel (the soldiers were so afraid that “they shook and became like dead men”), but also because their Lord had just been executed and His followers might be the next targets.
They did not let that fear hinder them, though, from doing what the Lord had asked them to do. And as they journeyed on in fear and joy, Jesus met them on the road. Jesus told them not to be afraid, and we know that at His word, fear leaves.
In our lives, Mikael and I have many times been asked by Jesus to do things that have been beyond our capacity, outside our comfort zone, and that have made us afraid. But as we have stepped out on His word, afraid yet filled with the joy and excitement that come from living a life led by the Spirit, God has always met us on the road, spoken peace over us, and chased away our fear.
If we want to wait to obey the Lord until all our fear is gone, we will not be able to be of much use for the Kingdom. But if we choose faith over fear, if we do it afraid, we will, like the women, meet Jesus on the road. He will speak peace over us and empower us for the task He has set before us.
Jesus, I pray that I, like the women, will respond in obedience to Your call, even if I am afraid, knowing that You will meet me on the road and speak Your peace over my life.