#FEARLESS365 is a yearlong study of God’s commandment to us to live without fear. For 365 days, we will focus on one scripture and volunteers from all over the world will share their personal thoughts and what God has shared with them on the specific verse. For more info… go here.

Enjoy! ~Nichole

But the LORD said to him, “Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.”

Judges 6:23

I feel that Gideon, not fully realizing who he was talking to, is a picture for us as believers. He asks the Angel of the Lord to wait for him as he gathers up his offering, and He does! It is only after the Angel did as Gabriel asked that he realized who He truly was, and of course he was terrified. But for me, the message is this: don’t be afraid to question. Don’t feel that insecurity about My Name and My Purpose are going to lead to death. I know you better than you know yourself, and I picked you anyway, with all your flaws and your issues.

I am in a place right now that could be seen as being pretty bad. I am on disability with lung and kidney problems, working on getting better and not always succeeding very well. In the past, I was a teacher and had a healing ministry–now I find that I am in need of healing myself. But God knew that this season would come, and he picked me anyway. He knew that I struggle with depression, and he picked me anyway. He knew that I would be at this standing point today, but I know that he has a plan that encompasses the past, present and future for me. God knows that I’m afraid, but he speaks to me in words of comfort and peace–Don’t be afraid. You will not die.

I don’t think of physical death when I hear these words. Of course we’re all going to die. But my soul will continue in fellowship and communion with my Lord long after my body has been laid to rest. As a younger woman, I knew this. Now I wait in faith for it to happen. God will take me far from the place I am today and bring me to unending peace and joy. The person I am today longs for that release. At the same time, I feel within me a calling to come out of this time and work for him. I know that only He can give me the strength I need to do this, and I wait for his decision.

Meg Villanueva is a Teacher and life coach from Susanville, CA. She as published three books—two in Spanish and one in English.