Episode 397: I’m Talkin…Afraid

I’m talking episode 397 for November 23rd, 2025.

This is Joel from the I’m Talking microcast, where I share my thoughts on a topic that has piqued my interest this past week.

This week, we’re talking afraid.

So afraid is not a word that needs definition.

We know what it means, and we often think about it when we think about children and things that they are afraid of, and things that maybe we have grown out of being afraid of as adults.

But you think of things like the dark, or maybe the imaginary, the monster under the bed, or maybe, who knows what it is.

And then as we grow up, it’s really that we are afraid of maybe more grown-up things, like we’re afraid that something’s going to get discovered about us that we want to keep hidden.

We might be afraid of the unknown.

We may be afraid of the future.

And therein lies the challenge for those of us who call ourselves Christian.

So today’s word comes from Psalm 23, verse 4, that says, Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.

Your rod and staff protect and comfort me.

So right there, it says, I will not be afraid.

And there is no reason to be afraid.

And it says why we don’t need to be afraid is because God is close beside us.

And what does that mean?

Well, it’s not just so much that God is with us, although that is important.

We also know that God is sovereign, which means He is in control.

He understands what’s going to happen.

He knows where we belong.

He understands our path in life.

It says in verse 2 of Psalm 23, You let me rest in green meadows.

You lead me beside peaceful streams.

So God knows our future.

He holds it in His hand.

We are secure in everything that God is, even in the frailty of our humanity.

And because of that, the word afraid becomes a word that is not in the vocabulary of Christians.

It’s just an awesome thought to know that God carries all of that for us.

And to be afraid means we aren’t trusting in God, and we need to spend time in His Word, spend time in prayer, increase our faith, and the word afraid will have no bearing on our future existence.

Until next week, this is Joel from the I’m Talking Microcast.