In April 1943 bomb-raid sirens rang throughout the air above London, England.

People dropped their things and searched the skies. Buses stopped, people flooded into the streets. Gunfire started to be heard. A nearby antiaircraft artillery launched some rockets. People started going into a frenzy. Some shouted, “They are starting to drop them!” although no one could see anything. 

Many people raced toward Bethnal Green Underground Station. People were cramped. They started stumbling over one another. In fifteen minutes, 173 men, women and children died.

No bombs were dropped. There was no actual threat.*

In the words of Franklin Roosevelt, there are times when the biggest thing to fear is fear itself.

In this devotional, I’m not saying there aren’t significant things in the world that are cause for concern. And I’m sure there are challenges in your personal life too.

But we are wise to avoid making up new things to fear, or jumping on the bandwagon of fear, or falsely spreading fear.

I know someone who is very calm, even when things get difficult. He looks at the facts, keeps his focus on God, and proceeds accordingly. He is a rare breed and a breath of fresh air!

He is like the person described in Isaiah 26:3: “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”

Trust in God. Have a steadfast mind. Know his peace.

---

Notes:

–New Podcast. “Why is there so much suffering and evil in the world if there is a benevolent being?” That was a question I was asked at a Q and A Forum. Click here to watch or listen to the answer. Or you can tune in to ‘The Pulse Podcast with Matthew Ruttan’ wherever you subscribe to podcasts.

–*As told in Max Lucado’s book Fearless.

–Bible quotes are from the NIV.