Have no fear of them, nor be troubled. 1 Peter 3:14
Peter is writing to believers who are in the process of facing their fears.
Some of these believers were anxious for unconverted loved ones. Chapter 3 begins with the example of a godly woman whose husband does not believe. Many of us are deeply burdened for loved ones who do not honor Christ. We see them making bad choices, we are afraid of where it will lead, and where it will end.
All of them faced the prospect of trials and even persecution. Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you (1 Pet. 4:12). Some of us are afraid that our freedoms are being eroded and that our children may not enjoy the blessings that have been given to us.
Often the fear of what lies ahead is harder to bear than the reality when it comes: What will I do if…? How will I cope when…? The Bible talks about “the valley of the shadow of death” (Ps. 23:4). The shadow can be worse than the reality. A person who is seriously ill will sometimes say, “It’s not dying that scares me, it’s the whole process of everything that leads up to it.”
So these Christians were in the most difficult position of all. They were facing the fear of violence, the fear of persecution, and the fear of loved ones being lost. Peter, who is their pastor and their shepherd, is writing to help them face their fears. “Have no fear of them, nor be troubled” (1 Pet. 3:14).
What kinds of fears are you facing today? How do you respond to Pastor Peter’s words?
