Two Places…
Humans have inhabited two places: Eden and after Eden. Just a handful of millennia ago a man and a woman knew no shame, hurt, fear. They named animals, marveled at flowers and fruit, found newness at every turn. Even walked with God.
“The man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as He was walking in the garden in the cool of the day” (Genesis 3:8a NIV)
Little parched for that cool of the day innocence of so long ago aren’t we? The account in Genesis 3 finishes with the saddest line ever written: “and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.” (Genesis 3:8b NIV)
For at that time they had succumbed to the most cleverly crafted lie ever. The enemy assured them, when they hesitated to eat the only thing God forbid, that they were missing out: “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:5 NIV)
So they did and then they hid.
Why? A few verses later, in a history of mankind that was just dawning, the word hounding us ever since appeared, f-e-a-r.
Here’s the thing though, God did not abandon us. Though we had to abandon perfection, He pursued and still does. And truth is this: God does not inhabit fear or worry or anxiety – but the enemy does. He wants them to grow, engulf, and destroy us.
God inhabits the opposite: courage, confidence, and peace. He wants them to increase, surround, and revive us.
We have life examples of Jesus’ faithfulness. Both the Biblical accounts and those of so many generations of Christ followers. Every step trodden on this imperfect earth are steps of history. Not ours, God’s. Each person has one earth life to tell the Story. It’s glorious beginning, the heart-wrenching middle, and the amazing never ending. Once again, man will walk with God in the cool of day: “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God.” (Revelation 21:3b NIV)
parisrenae 
So very thankful that God offers us courage, confidence and, yes, peace! We have no need to leave in fear – one of the enemy’s greatest tools. Your post was encouraging – thanks.
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