Isaiah 40:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

I was nineteen years old when I entered the Vietnam War. I knew the crippling effect of fear. I knew how you are more likely to make mistakes and possibly do something stupid when you are afraid. I learned to live with fear. I was wrong.

I have been fearful of my tax returns this year. I had this opinion that I was going to cough up some serious money come tax time. I thought that this was my problem, I thought it only affected me. I was wrong.

My wife, with love and grace, pointed out to me that my fears tainted every part of my life. It caused me to be overly cautious, protective, defensive, and clouded my judgments. It isn’t that I hurt anyone because of my doubts and fears, it is that I could have done more and been better in all the things I do.

Perhaps worst of all, the time spent worrying could have been better spent on positive activities. I could have served the Kingdom better, I could have been better to you. If I had believed Isaiah 40:10 I know that God could have done more. The right hand is the hand of power. The left hand is the hand of mercy and grace. I caused Him to hold me in the left hand because of my fear. I was wrong.

Psalm 139:23,24 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

You don’t have to be wicked to be wrong.