Never Fear, God is Here
SCRIPTURE: 2 Corinthians 2:12-17 
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BIO: My name is Karen Lynch. I am the lobby receptionist for FPCO. My husband Dan and I have been together for 25 years. We have an 18 year old son named Jack. Through some hard trials, I came to know the Lord. And eventually God used those same trials to bring my husband and son to Him as well. I am a recovering alcoholic, but more importantly, I am a child of God.
KEY VERSE: 2 Corinthians 2:12-13 “When I came to the city of Troas to preach the Good News of Christ, the Lord opened a door of opportunity for me. But I had no peace of mind because my dear brother Titus hadn’t yet arrived with a report from you. So I said good-bye and went on to Macedonia to find him.”
CENTRAL TRUTH: Sometimes we let our worldly concerns and lack of trust in the Lord govern our choices, which causes us to miss out on the blessings He intended for us to have.
DEVOTIONAL: Never Fear, God is Here
Paul didn’t stay in Troas to preach the Good News of Christ because he was anxious about receiving the news from Titus about the Corinthian Church. He gave up a good opportunity to share the Word in Troas, all to rush to Macedonia to find Titus. It says in the Bible, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank Him for all He has done” (Philippians 4:6). Think of what could have been accomplished if Paul had looked to the Lord and trusted His ways, instead of rushing off on his own to find Titus.
So many times in my life when I have felt uncomfortable or uncertain, I have not looked to the Lord for comfort or reassurance, but instead have relied on people around me to help guide my way. Or, I make decisions based on what I think is best for ME and not what God would have me do. This has proven to be a mistake for me since other people may not always have a Godly perspective, and often what I think is best for me and what God thinks is best for me are two entirely different things. I have learned that when I get stumped, the best thing I can do is look to the Lord. As the Good Book says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, do not lean on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6). As I have become more firm in my faith, I have noticed that I am more able to look straight up to the Lord when I have insecurities or questions.
QUESTION 1: In what ways have you relied on your own strength to accomplish a task or goal instead of looking to the Lord?
QUESTION 2: The Lord opened a door of opportunity for Paul, what doors has He opened for you?
QUESTION 3: The next time you feel anxious about something, what do you think you can do to stay in His will for your life?
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