WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU ENCOUNTER GOD’S PRESENCE? or, HOW TO COMPLETELY BE FREE FROM FEAR

January 28, 2025

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU ENCOUNTER GOD’S PRESENCE? or, HOW TO COMPLETELY BE FREE FROM FEAR

 

So, departing quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, they ran to tell his disciples the news. Just then Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” They came up, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus told them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there. (Matthew 28:8-10 CSB)

In His presence is fullness of joy. (Psalms 16:11)

 

Imagine all that the followers of Jesus felt after His crucifixion. All hope was gone. They had left everything to follow Him, placing every ounce of their faith in Him and His coming kingdom. All that was crushed as their King seemed helpless before godless men. He, who they thought was the Son of God, died a horrific death.

Fear gripped them, for as His followers, they rightfully assumed they would be the next to be rounded up by the Pharisees and turned over to the Romans. Everything looked completely dark.

BUT THE TOMB

We don’t know why Mary Magdalene and Mary went to the tomb. But they could not stay away, drawn there by God’s hand. But when they came, they were not met with darkness but blinding light. A brilliant angel was waiting just for them on the massive stone (rolled aside now) at the entrance of the empty tomb. Then they heard the twelve most powerful words in human history:

He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said! (Matthew 28:6)

When they went running to the disciples to tell them, they were filled with “fear and great joy” as those two overwhelming emotions flooded their souls … until they came into the presence of the resurrected Christ!

“Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.” (Vs. 10)

“You have two overwhelming emotions,” Jesus was saying, “but as you’ve come into My presence, one can be shed like a heavy coat on a warm day. You no longer need fear … just joy.”

Their fear was gone, as it always is when we encounter His near presence. When we are in the presence of pure love, His perfect love casts out all fear (see 1 John 4:18). They now ran with nothing but joy and spoke with bold abandon. They had been in His actual presence. They had held His feet and worshiped Him. All was well.

ARE YOU FEARFUL?

Worried and bothered? Consumed with anxiety over so many things? God invites you—even commands you--to worry about nothing, which seems impossible. But that liberating freedom from fear is as available as the sun rising in the mornings, if you will follow the whole command.

Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6)

If you enter His presence all day and talk to Him about everything, your fear will evaporate like the morning dew. It is no longer needed. In its place will be only joy.

It’s what you will always experience if you live a Presence-centered life.

 





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