By 1932, the United States found itself in the depths of the greatest depression it had ever witnessed.  People struggled to find meaningful work, farmers had no market for their produce, and most people had spent their life’s savings trying to survive.  Bread lines and soup kitchens were in abundance while jobs were scarce.  That same year, Franklin D. Roosevelt campaigned against incumbent, Herbert Hoover, for the presidency of the United States.  He used charm, whit, and optimism as his primary campaigning tools saying very little about what he would actually do if he were elected.  Despite this, he won; he was elected to be our 32^nd president.  His inauguration was on March 4, 1933.  In his first address to the nation he said these immortal words:  “The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself.”  At a time when people feared for their basic survival, FDR instilled hope in the nation’s and our individual ability to overcome current circumstances and thrive.  We simply had to get past our fears.

At the beginning of the first century in Palestine, eleven men plus unnumbered women put their hopes, dreams, and trust in a man named Jesus.  They witnessed his miracles, listened to his teachings, and heard him preach about a kingdom unlike any other of their time.  He pointed them toward a future that they believed in and had confidence that it would come into being – until he was crucified, died, and buried.  That unnerved his followers; it caused the men to scatter in fear, and left the women to tend to the ritual of watching the tomb to ensure he was really dead.  But on resurrection morning, the grave could not hold Jesus.  The tomb was opened for the women to see that Jesus was not there and because of this, they were afraid.  But they weren’t alone – the guards were afraid and so were the religious leaders.  After an earthquake and an encounter with an angel, the women ran from the graveyard only to encounter Jesus who again reminded them to not be afraid.  Instead, he told them to go and be his witnesses telling the men disciples that he would meet them in Galilee.  It seems that to do anything in life you have to first conquer your fears.

I invite you to take time and read each of the scriptures above as you move to reflect on the questions below.  Take a moment and reflect on your fears and how they impede your everyday life and your faithful witness.  Lastly, I pray that God bless the reading of God’s Word and the meditations of your heart.