The “Fear Not” of Answered Prayer

The phrase, “Fear Not” is in the Bible numerous times.  There are at least four connected with the Christmas story.  Let’s look at these beginning today and for the next three days.

Zacharias was an old priest.  He and his wife, Elisabeth, who also was old, had no children.  The Angel, Gabriel, came into the temple and appeared to Zacharias who became afraid at the appearance of the angel. But the angel said unto him, “Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shall call his name John.” (Luke 1:13)

This is the “Fear Not” of answered prayer.  Apparently, Zacharias had prayed in the will of God.  The Bible says, “And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” (I John 5:14)

God does not always answer our prayers the way we think He should. God may answer “yes,” “no,” or “later.”    Paul had a thorn in the flesh, for which he prayed three times that God would remove it but God chose not to.  God did answer his prayer. Just as good parents do not give their children everything they want, knowing that some things they ask for may bring bodily harm or in some way not be good for them, neither does God give His children everything they request. The key is to pray and leave it in God’s hands and don’t be afraid.