READ: PSALMS 23; 46; MATTHEW 10:29-31; EPHESIANS 1:3

Though I walk through darkest valleys
In the shadows of my fear
I can hold my head up high
because I know You’re here

The sparrows do not worry
They’re not afraid, they do not stress
Because the Lord cares for them
So, His children are certainly blessed

When mountains fall and earth gives way
We can have peace of mind
We have a fortress and refuge
As strong as any can find

We don’t need to wander
Our Shepherd won’t let us fall
We are secure, we have a home
His arms open to us all • Elizabeth Blanton

• Because the world has been broken by sin, we all feel afraid and anxious sometimes. Jesus Himself experienced deep distress before going to the cross (Matthew 26:36-46). But Jesus died and rose again to defeat sin and all its effects—including fear, worry, and anxiety. He will return one day to restore creation and raise us from the dead, establishing His rule and reign of perfect peace. In the meantime, He promises to always be with us, feeling our hurts with us and giving us His peace and strength even in the midst of difficulty (Matthew 1:23; 28:20). Once we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we can know that we are never alone, because He is the God who’s here.

• When you feel worried or afraid, who are trusted Christians in your life who can remind you of Jesus’s presence with you?

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)