God's message then is fear not to the sinner who repents. A message of great joy we have mercy, grace, and forgiveness. Do not fear is often said in the old testament. "I am with you", says God. Fear not, don't be afraid. God's presence brings tremendous comfort when we are in fear.
Now a wrong sort of fear leads to sorrow. Look at Peter, twice before and after the Lord's death he was afraid of men, wrongly. It causes him to be sad and weep. Fear not little flock is Christ’s command, it’s God's pleasure to give you the Kingdom. Let not your heart be troubled. Ah, you may say, but you don’t know my trouble! Christ knows your trouble; he knew when he said let not your heart be troubled. Belief or trust in Christ was the answer because it is Christ who has and will save us. Therefore, we are told to trust Him and, furthermore, he is praying for us. He knows all about us and will deliver us, even from our latest woes. In a way that’s Christ’s manifested grace to the believer to save to the uttermost, you even you, if you trust Him. Answer your fear of man or fear of service, stir up the gift within you Paul says to Timothy (a fearful young man). Don't sit there finding out more things to fear and more things you can’t do because of that fear. Mary said her spirit rejoiced in God after she trusted His Word. So will ours? How’s your spirit today on the floor, cast down? Fear not, be lifted above it all in the Lord, in God, not in self, we know our frame, our sins, and woes. We joy in God; walk humbly, truly seek his guidance in all things and after he leads let us fully follow. The Spirit of God works in us, does the sanctifying work.