I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Psalm 34:4

You know the feeling; you’re restless and can’t fall asleep. Anxiety seems to crawl in and inhabit every pore of your skin. Something isn’t quite right. Your teenage son hasn’t come home from his date, and curfew is just minutes away. Your little girl can’t breathe because of a bad respiratory infection. The results from your medical tests haven’t been revealed yet. A thousand and one things can send your mind reeling down a black hole that seems to have no end. Worry creeps in and takes up residence in your imagination…fear dominates your thought processes. And what do you do?

If you’re a Child of the King, hopefully, you’ll pray. That phrase, “Fear of the Lord,” has caused confusion in the minds of most of us. But, recently, I’ve realized that fear doesn’t mean to be afraid in this case. It means to show reverence to God, honoring His supremacy and His consummate care for His children. When we acknowledge that a situation is out of our control and turn it over to Him in good faith, we can rest assured He will handle it. Maybe the answer won’t be what we expected, and maybe He’ll do things differently than we would have, but His answer is always the best answer.

…the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. Isaiah 43:1

As I was writing, I wondered how many times Fear of the Lord is mentioned in the Bible…the number varies with the version you’re reading. The specific phrase is said to appear about 24 times, but the word fear appears to be much more prevalent, with some sources citing hundreds of times. One would believe from all those references that we are expected to live our lives in terror of the God who created us. But closer inspection and in-depth study will prove that the word fear, when used biblically, actually means to revere our God, to feel awe and respect toward Him, and to want to obey His wishes. I don’t know about you, but I’d much rather a caring Father had my back than go it alone. All we really need to do is let go of the controls and talk with Him.

And, as for those late-night worries, well, the door opens quietly and your son climbs the stairs to his room just as the clock strikes curfew. Ah…one worry off your list. The medicine takes hold, and that little lady is breathing easily again. Two worries gone. A notification pops up on your phone. A lab tech somewhere has been burning the midnight oil, and those test results indicate that nothing serious is wrong. Just like that, your worry and fear disappear. You can finally fall asleep, knowing that the Creator of all things is keeping watch over you and yours.

The fear of God isn’t terror—it’s reverent trust!

It’s about recognizing His magnificent supremacy and finding my

(your or our) proper place in relationship with Him.

Krystal Ribble, estherpress.com