Bestselling author and outspoken Christian Jeanine Cunnion recently wrote an inspiring opinion piece outlining the most commonly given command of the Bible, explaining how following it will add depth to one’s relationship with the creator of the universe.
In her opinion piece published on Fox News, Cunnion wrote, “The most repeated command in the Bible is some version of “fear not!” It sounds great in theory, but let’s be honest, how can God expect us to not live in fear when everything around us feels so out-of-control? Hurricane devastation. Israel under attack. Election rage. Port strikes. Record rates of depression and anxiety. Lord have mercy.”
The author particularly honed in on Isaiah 40:11, which reads, “He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms. and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.” This verse clearly demonstrates that God looks after his children. Cunnion wrote, “In Isaiah 40:11, God is speaking specifically to Israel who is aware of all the danger around her, and it is only through God’s promise of His presence that fear loses its paralyzing power over her.”
She further points out that, while we are not Israel as Christians living under the new covenant with Jesus Christ, the principles and wisdom outlined in this old testament wisdom still apply. “God says there is no need to fear, not because everything is fine, but because “I’m your God,” she added. Cunnion continued, “Draw closer to God for your courage and pray fervently for His will to be done on Earth as it is in heaven.”
The Christian Tribune recently reported on similar commentary from famous actor Chuck Norris who offered faith-based wisdom in dealing with the seemingly endless stressors and anxieties of the modern age. “Worries and anxiety will haunt you ‘until the cows come home,’” Norris said. “Let go and let God…Troubles come and troubles go, but we don’t need to focus on them when there is so much right and good going on in our lives and even the world every minute. Where’s our focus and hope? In our supply or the divine Supplier who has promised to provide?”
During times of hardship, Norris encouraged people to have faith and persevere. “If you’ve been successful, odds are it didn’t come because you were born with a silver spoon,” he said. “The hard work we hated as kids made us who we are today, right? It’s still true: When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Grit and perseverance still win the gold!”
The actor also offered the timeless advice of not putting one’s trust in material wealth. “Do not put your hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God who richly provides us with all things to enjoy [or be happy].” Norris concluded, “America’s founders understood that spiritual fact. That is why they stated it among our unalienable rights in the Declaration of Independence: We are ‘endowed by [our] Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.’”
Featured image credit: Featured image credit: Joshua Keller, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gutenberg_Bible,_New_York_Public_Library,_USA._Pic_01.jpg