FEAR, is it your battle?

YAHWEH-ROHI means The LORD - Yahweh my Shepherd

Ps. 23:1 "The LORD is my Shepherd: I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters."

Did you know you have a Shepherd? Most believers do, but we forget how significant this truth is. Fear enters. Fear grips. Fear controls.

What is your biggest fear? Loss of money, health, children/spouse, a job. Is it divorce, a debilitating accident, death? Oh yes, there are so many things to fear and yet we, as children of God are told two things—we have a Shepherd and we are not to fear.

The Bible affirms from Genesis to Revelation a resounding message…

• Gen. 26:24 "Do not fear, for I am with you."
• Ps. 27:1 "The Lord is my light and my salvation: Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?
• Is. 35:4 Say to those who are fearful-hearted, Be strong, do not fear! Behold your God will come…
• Heb. 13:5-6 I will not leave you, nor forsake you. So we may boldly say: The Lord is my helper; I will not fear."
• Rev. 2:10 "Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer… be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life."

God does not promise health, wealth and prosperity. He said, "In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." John 16:33 As much as we would like the warm and fuzzy, and to live the life of a Hallmark movie in the here and now, that's not reality. Happily ever after? Yes, that day will come for every believer—but it won't be this side of heaven.

However, Yahweh-Rohi, promises something much richer.

He is our Shepherd, right here, right now, so says Ps. 23, and we are the sheep of his pasture. Ps. 100:3 Almost everyone has heard or knows Psalm 23 by memory. Why? Because it is a beautiful reminder we are not alone in life, or in death.

Ro'eh means to lead to green pastures, or feed the flock. The imagery of a loving compassion Shepherd who protects and provides and knows us by name is the tender, intimate promise of Yahweh-Rohi to us. This name is rich in truth and power.

Today, in Palestine you can observe shepherds. Not much has changed from the day in which David penned that beloved passage in Psalm 23. Wild animals still pose a threat where protection is needed. The shepherd provides pasture and water, not driving his sheep but leading them gently. He still lives night and day with his sheep and calls them by name. They know his voice and settle peacefully under his care.

What a beautiful picture this paints for us to see the loving guidance of Yahweh-Rohi. He is both strong and gentle. I love verse eleven in Isaiah 40, in fact it was a chorus my sister and I used to sing together in harmony. "He shall feed his flock like a shepherd, He shall gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in His bosom (heart), and gently lead those who are with young." This is the heart of our God.

I know fear and have tasted hopelessness. I have put Psalm 23 to the test.

When my marriage fell prey to betrayal, I wanted to end my life. My broken heart longed for an end to the pain. But I can attest to this truth, that no matter what you are going through, or what destruction Satan has laid in your path, he is the author of FEAR and He is a liar. There is healing for every broken heart. There is hope for every situation. There is a Shepherd just waiting to hold you close to His heart.

As I stood at the edge of a cliff, with rocks and crashing waves below, my heavy soul could only think of the relief death would bring. God sent a strong blast of wind that literally pushed me back from the edge. That gust was enough to bring a moment of clarity. God had not forsaken me, my Shepherd was with me. He then brought to mind my son and daughter and how much they needed me even though they were young adults. Yahweh-Rohi put the comfort of His staff around me and pulled me to safety. My legacy would not be suicide, it would be healing. And so today, eleven years later, I stand strong and restored with a message of hope to share with the world.

No one can tell me that Yahweh-Rohi is not real. Nor will any circumstance ever again shake my foundation. For I know something I did not know back then—there is nothing that will separate me from the love of God. He wrapped His arms around me and kept me on solid ground when my world was falling apart.

Rom. 8:35 is true. "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?" 38) For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Even if your biggest fear comes true, like mine did … nothing will separate you from the love of your Shepherd, Yahweh-Rohi.

Pray this prayer with me. Yahweh-Rohi loves you.

Dear Shepherd,

I am broken. I am afraid. I feel I have no worth, no value, no hope. Oh, Yahweh-Rohi come to me in your power and might. Blow that wind of faith back into my soul. Revive me, dear Shepherd, for I am one of your wounded sheep. Bring me from the brink of hopelessness back to life. Heal my pain. Thank you that nothing can separate your love from me. No fear, nor circumstance, can have power over my life. Increase my faith in this moment and give me enough strength to walk through this valley of darkness.                                     Amen

Please listen to this song by Zach Williams called Fear is a Liar, it will encourage your soul. 

All Scripture taken from NKJV

Other Names of God that may be helpful to you can be found on these blog dates.

_{1) Elohim-God - October 1, 2018}

_{2) Abba Father - October 15, 2018}

_{3) El Shaddai - October 22, 2018}

_{4) The Truth - October 28, 2018}

_{5) The Alpha & Omega - Nov. 5, 2018}

_{6) Yahweh-Shalom - Nov. 12, 2018}

_{7) God of All Comfort - Nov. 19,2018}

_{8) The Rock - Nov. 26, 2018}

_{9) Our Maker - Dec. 3, 2018}

_{10) Our Defender - Dec.10, 2018}

_{11) Immanuel - Dec. 17, 2018}

_{12) The Bread of Life - Jan. 7, 2019}

_{13) Yahweh-Nissi - Jan. 14, 2019}

_{14) Yahweh-Rohi - Jan. 21, 2019}