Fear Not; Behold My Face

Matthew 14:27 – At once, Jesus said to them, "Don't worry! I am Jesus. Don't be afraid." (CEV)

Admittedly, I was afraid that night as I walked down the hospital corridor. I looked up, and directly facing me on the window was Christ's face. Without a shadow of a doubt, I know that He revealed Himself to me that night. It has taken me a long time to share this. Up until now I have only confided this to my family and a few very close friends. The time has come to share this more widely.

There are different types of fear: actual fear which you can almost taste, fear of the unknown, and fear (the best kind) where you hold the Lord in awesome reverence. My fear at that time was both a reverence for my Lord, yet a deep-down fear that if I said anything to the nurses or doctors, I would never get out of the psychiatric unit which I had entered voluntarily. I felt fear like the women felt when the angel of the Lord appeared to them to announce the resurrection of Christ.

Matthew 28:5-6 – The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay."

I had started to be under attack by voices which were commanding me to do hurtful things, such as to commit suicide, which I had tried. I knew I needed help, so I asked to be admitted to the hospital. Jesus also knew that I needed help, and revealing His face to me, I am sure, was His way of telling me that He was with me all the way, and He continues to be with me. Satan was attacking me, but oh! "Greater is He that is in [me] than he that is in the world." (1 John 4:4 KJV) Although it has been proven by various tests that I do not have schizophrenia or any mental illness, I still do hear voices today, eight years later, but they no longer tell me to do bad things. They are more like mischievous mocking demons who can't keep their mouth shut. God has removed my fear, and He will ultimately deal with Satan.

Whatever wilderness walk you are going through, whatever your tribulations, be strong and of good courage; Christ will come and save you. He will walk with each of us if we let Him.

Isaiah 35:4 – Say to those who are fearful-hearted, "Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God; He will come and save you." (NKJV)

Prayer: Dear God, thank You for the never-ending presence of Your Son with us. He is always there to calm us. You are an awesome God, and You strengthen us every day. May we humbly walk in Your service and not fear the unknown, because to You there are no unknowns, and You hold our hand all the way. Yes, Lord, may each of us have opportunity to behold Your face in all its glory. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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