[Faith-talk] Another Devotional Devotional

[Tony Sohl]

God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and 
self-control. — 2 Timothy 1:7, ESV

Know the Difference
Jared and Jensen were twelve-year-old twin brothers who naturally did 
most everything together and unwaveringly relied on each other. They 
were trudging home along the back road after a fun day of climbing 
trees, chasing rabbits, and splashing in the pond near their home in 
Little Creek.

As the sky grew darker, Jared suddenly stopped dead in his tracks. He 
motioned to Jensen to stay quiet. He heard the crunching of footsteps. 
A shadow passed in the nearby scrub. “It’s the panther!” The almost 
supernatural tales of the Black Panther that stalked Little Creek were 
well known and believed as fact. Jared took short, choppy breaths in fear.

Jensen, though, started laughing. “Are you afraid of old Paint?” Just 
then a speckled pony emerged from the bushes. She trotted over to see 
the boys. Jensen scoffed, “Jared, don’t you know the difference between 
a panther and a pony?”

He didn’t – and he isn’t alone, in that most of us, peering into the 
darkness, can sometimes get friendly reality confused with frightening 
fantasy. That’s when today’s verse can be an unwavering foundation upon 
which to place your faith. It’ll help you turn your perceived fears 
about scary things—like a lack of money, or a doctor’s diagnosis, or 
the future of a prodigal child—into genuine belief that God is in control.

What are you afraid of today? Come into the light of your trustworthy 
God. Experience His presence. He’ll help you see there’s really nothing 
to fear.


Today's One Thing
Read Psalm 27:1, and then acknowledge God's authority over the biggest 
fear you now have in your life.

Go Deeper
Mark 4:35-41; Acts 27:21-44; Hebrews 11:23-40