Day 1 of 365. Gulp. Few years in recent memory have begun with more apprehension about the state of our world. It’s been said that some variation of the phrase “do not be afraid” appears 365 time in the Bible–once for each day of the year.
Could God be trying to tell us something?
Ever since Einstein’s day scientists have been trying to find a Unified Field, a framework that unifies all fundamental forces (gravity, electromagnetism, etc.). Ten years ago, Interstellar—a movie about our world being sucked into an immense black hole–suggested that love is the solution, the Unified Field.
Is there a connection between love and the Bible’s insistence that we not be afraid? According to I John 4:18, “Perfect love casts out fear.” In other words, fear, not hatred, is the opposite of love. And yet, in the Bible, when virtually anyone enters the presence of God, they fall to their knees in recognition of their own brokenness (Isaiah 6:6; Luke 5:8).
Why? Because we think we’re OK until we see what OK really looks like. Then we suddenly understand that we’re not even close. And the closer we get to God, the more we understand just how broken our world is–and how broken we are. We’re selfish, vindictive, vain…. You know what I’m talking about.
So the solution is to avoid God, right? Only if you want to live a lie. No, the solution is to dive into that black hole, the terrifying realization that our world really is broken, and that we suck even more than that black hole does. And God isn’t the problem, he’s the solution. He doesn’t cause our fears, we do. But God’s “perfect love casts out fear.”
When we humble ourselves and admit we suck, God’s response is, “Yeah, I know, but guess what? I love you, and my love is the Unified Field that holds the whole universe together, so I’m pretty sure it can help you stop sucking. Now, get over here…
And stop being afraid!” (see James 4:10 and Micah 7:18-19)
Excellent as always! Blessings!
Thank you, and likewise, Doug.
Ah, New Year’s advise we all need. Thank you, Mitch! Happy New Year! 🎉🙌🏾🥳
*advice
Thank you, and bless, trE!
You’re welcome! Thank you! 🙏🏾🩵
Good advice, Mitch. Happy New Year and let us pray this one will be better than the last.
Amen, Phil.
What a love-ly way to start what promises to be a chaotic new year! Thanks, Mitch. Oh, by the way, Canada will NOT become the 51st state, no matter what he says.🇨🇦🇨🇦
;>)
Bold
❤️
What a terrific way to start this new leg of our journey around the sun! Good words, Mitch. Thank you. Happy New Year! And now, let the revolution begin!
Amen, and thank you, Steve!
Great advice!
Wishing you happiness and hope
Likewise, Luisa!
🙏💫🙏
Happy New Year to You dear Mitch📝🌐🙏
Why, thank you dear Razdva.
Happy New Year, Mitch! Great post, as always. 🎉😊🙏
Why, thank you, Sally!
˛¸.o•°“°•o.˛¸˛.o•°★°•o.˛¸˛.o•°“°•o.˛¸
★ WiSh y0u And YouR FaMiLY ★
˛¸.o•°“°•o.˛¸˛.o•°★°•o.˛¸˛.o•°“°•o.˛¸
Happy & Healthy New Year!
Thank you, you too, Cindy!
#agingfearlessly
Well said, Mitch. Happy New Year! 🤗
Thank you, Kirsten!
Happy New Year, Mitch. 🎊✨
Thanks, Iman.
Happy New Year, Mitch. Thank you in advance for more great posts. I remind myself on a daily basis to not be afraid, to have faith that God has it all handled. Thanks for the affirmation!
My privilege, my Anonymous friend.
Truth and wisdom shared so beautifully on this first day of the year! God bless you, Mitch! “Perfect love casts out fear!” Amen! Back away, Fear. You’re a liar! I’m so glad my brokenness led to the only solution–God’s perfect love and salvation. Here we go, my friend. Happy New you too!
Here we go indeed, Karla. And thank you, dear friend.
It’s my blessing. 🙏🏻
<3
I love this. Great advice for a New Year!
–Scott
Thanks, Scott!
Happy New Year, Mitch.
Thank you, Lori.
Very much so!
Great message to start the year with.
Thanks, Julie.
You are welcome, enjoyed reading it.
Let’s ditch the “stage fright” and get the show on the road for 2025. 🙂
Best wishes to you and yours in 2025.
Thanks, SS.
Happy New Year!
Thank you, Sheryl!
Happy new year
Happy New Year to you!
Thank you, Butcher!
Happy New Year 🎊
Thank you, Danee!
Most welcome
AMEN, Mitch. This resonates so well with the book I am reading right now… Falling Upward by Fr. Richard Rohr. In it he reminds us that it is only when we come rudely face to face with our own brokenness and sin can we ever truly connect with God. The problem is, no one usually volunteers to face those realities about themselves.
Very true, my friend.
What a deep and true way to start the new year. Thank you Mitch!
My privilege, Kara. Blessings in the year ahead.
A timlely message and reminder that God holds the whole world and all things together by the power of his word.
“…“Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;”
Hebrewa 1:3
“And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”
Colossians 1:17
Blessings.
Thanks, and amen, Pete.
Happy new year!
Thank you, Debi!
Happy New Year Mitch!
Thank you, Janice!
Thanks for the reminder’ My friend Edgar always tells me that we can’t fix a problem until we realize we are the problem…
Edgar has a point.
Happy New Year!
Thanks, Dusty!
You too, Dusty!
Great advice to take us into the new year, Mitch! Happy New Year and abundant blessings!
Thank you, and likewise, Peggy!
Oooh, absolutely love this. Happy New Year, Mitch! And thank you SO MUCH for sharing your writing!
My privilege, Ramona, and a belated Happy New Year to you!
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