Sometimes I hear people fretting about the terrible condition of our country and the mess that the world seems to be in right now. Please believe me. I care deeply. I really do. Sometimes I hear people fretting about health situations. Please believe me. I care deeply. I really do.

But friends, I have to tell you about a wonderful verse that I learned years ago that has really, really helped me a lot. Have I “perfectly” learned and fulfilled this verse? No. But has it blessed, settled, and strengthened me? Yes! Let me share it with you and then relate a story that happened to me years ago, back when I was traveling every weekend in ministry. Here’s the verse.

“Be not afraid of sudden fear” (Proverbs 3:25).

Our fears sometimes are totally irrational. All of us at one time or another have been fearful of something that never happened. Here’s an illustration of this.

I remember this incident very clearly. The plane was nearly full as we headed out of Cleveland that day. As the 737 turned onto the runway, the engines roared as faster we rolled and soon were lifting off, banking left and heading out over Lake Erie.

To my amazement, the elderly lady sitting next to me grabbed my arm and loudly announced to me, “I’m afraid. I’m afraid.” For the next several minutes she was in sheer terror clinging to my arm. Her fear was beyond description. When our turn was complete, and we headed back over land, she said, “There. I feel much better now. If we crash, it will be fine. When we were over the water, if we crashed, I can’t swim!”

Bless her heart. If we crashed over land or crashed over water, it wouldn’t make much difference. Secretly I smiled to myself. Come to think of it, some people live their lives with such irrational fear. They are afraid that maybe something dreadful or terrifying might come someday, and they miss out on the peace and contentment of trusting Him.

This is the challenge for you and me today: Trust in the Lord today. Don’t let the possibility of “maybe” rob you of the joys of reality.