Jeremiah’s call to ministry was not met with enthusiasm but with hesitation. When God revealed His plan for the prophet’s life, Jeremiah’s first instinct was to protest. He doubted his abilities and wanted out of the mission altogether. But God’s reassurance was simple and profound: “Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord” (Jeremiah 1:8). As commentator Willis notes, God did not promise Jeremiah comfort, success, or a happy ending—only His presence. “Such proof,” Willis writes, “cannot be verified; it is only known in the heart of the believer.” That may not satisfy those who want visible guarantees, but it is the only assurance that truly matters. Jeremiah’s courage would not come from circumstance but from confidence in the companionship of God. Fear was not removed; it was rendered powerless by presence.
I have often heard that there are 365 “Do not be afraid” commands in Scripture—one for every day of the year. I have never counted them all, but there are certainly enough to cover the days when I feel anxious. Each one, like Jeremiah’s, rests on the same foundation: God is with us. The antidote to fear is not denial but dependence. Joshua received the same encouragement centuries earlier: “Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9). Life’s challenges do not come with a “no fear” guarantee; they come with a “God is near” promise. Faith in that presence gives strength when courage wavers. Still, there are times when God feels silent, distant, or hidden behind the storm clouds of trouble. As one songwriter reminds us, “God never promised us a rose garden.” He did, however, promise His companionship through the thorns.
Jesus affirmed this truth in full when He told His disciples, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). That is His version of “Do not be afraid.” It is almost humorous—God’s warnings about fear usually precede encounters with something terrifying. As Ryken illustrates, it is like a king sending his knight to battle while calling out, “Don’t be afraid of the dragon!” Only then does the knight realize there is a dragon. Yet that is the point: dragons are real, but so is the Deliverer. Jesus, the conquering King, stands beside us in every fiery test. With faith in His presence, we too can face our dragons—armed not with certainty of outcome, but with the promise of Emmanuel: “God with us.”