The Good Shepherd Removes Fear 

(Speaker: Rachael Wade)

What do you fear?  

God wants to not just cover your fears, but remove them with His Presence, Protection, and Proof of Unfailing Love. 

4 Even though I walk

   through the darkest valley,

I will fear no evil,

   for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

   they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me

   in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil;

   my cup overflows.

6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me

   all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord

   forever. (Psalm 23:4-6)

God's Presence Removes Fear

“There were no green fields; it was more brown. There was no water. You have to know where to go. Everything can kill you.” -  Dr. Cyndi Parker 

“Even though I walk

   through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil,”  

In a fearful situation, God’s presence brings peace.  

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire,  you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. (Isaiah 43:2)

"The Shepherd is essential. Suddenly, you understand how crucial he is. We, like the sheep, must get up and follow the shepherd to get to the green. " - Dr. Cyndi Parker

God's Protection Removes Fear

"your rod and your staff, they comfort me"

"You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies." 

"You anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows." (Psalm 23:5)

God's Unfailing Love Removes Fear

“Surely your goodness and love will follow me

   all the days of my life,  

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord

forever."  

(Psalm 23:6)

If we want the Good Shepherd to Remove Our Fear, we must admit, submit, and outwit our fears.  

Admit Your Fears

Confess your fears to Our Father and the Family of God

Submit Your Fears

“God speaks peace over every part of you that clashes and clings for control. Your greatest joy, deepest belonging, and eternal safety no longer need to be safeguarded by striving or shutting down. Your worth is welded to Christ’s finished work on the cross. Jesus seeks the exiled parts of yourself at the cost of his own life.”  - K.J. Ramsey 

What parts of yourself have been exiled from God’s peace?  

Outwit Your Fears

"What if, instead of being people paralyzed by our fears, we could constantly be galvanized by our faith."  - Pastor Ben Pilgreen

Are you consuming the word of God that brings peace and builds your faith?  

"The loss of safety in our past elicits fear in our present and future. Because all our experiences (i.e., stories) are different, the fear manifested in us is different as well. Who and what you fear is dependent on the trauma, suffering, grief, etc. of your story. Trauma changes your perspective on everything—including fear. These fears can’t be compared and none of them are wrong."  - Sybil Kolbert