No Fear - Not Just a Slogan

Photographer Unknown

In 1989, a company / brand emerged on the scene and in the halls of junior and senior high schools across America. This company is best known by its motto, "No Fear." No Fear targeted those who were born from 1978 forward. Today, this company promotes and supports many extreme sports like motor cross and snowboarding, just to name a few.

As a teen, I not only saw this motto walking across the halls of my school on t-shirts, stickers and folders, but I also wore some of these shirts and carried some of these stickers. I loved the No Fear shirts about soccer, skiing and hockey. I grew up in Colorado and snow sports were huge and snow boarding was just getting kick started. Thus, this brand was everywhere in Colorado. The idea, in my opinion, was to create an ideology upon the youth of strength, perseverance and confidence. It wasn't just an ideology of extreme sports, but one of extreme lifestyles that, to no direct fault of the company or brand, included binge drinking, use of elicit drugs and sex without presumed consequences. Though for me and many, it simply was a motto of strength that no matter what came at you in adolescence, have No Fear. Don't be afraid.

I personally think we could use a little of this motto in our global world today. Have No Fear. Don't be afraid. With the economy in the position that it is and people feeling like they have no control over the present or future, many fears are being elevated and things are nothing less than extreme.

John 14:27 says "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (NIV). God is our reason not to fear. I strongly believe that there is not one prayer sent up that goes unanswered. Prayers, however, are not answered in our time or in our way, but they are always answered and in ways that far exceed our meager comprehension. This is because God gives not as the world gives. God gives to us that which the world cannot and then God in all wisdom and love turns to us and tells us not to be troubled and not to be afraid. We must apply this to our lives today. People are loosing homes, loosing savings, loosing what feels like everything and how can we not be afraid? How can we not feel out of control and powerless? It's impossible not to feel these things. But God tells us to not let our hearts be troubled. God gives us the greatest gift of all; peace.

Ephesians 3:20 states, "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us." (KJV) You see here the words exceeding and abundantly? Why would there be such an emphasis that we would use two strong descriptive words? We know from this that God is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all that we can possibly fathom, request, pray for. God can give to us in a way that is exceedingly and abundantly greater than the world. If then, we take this word of God into account, why are we placing so much faith into the systems and hands of man? Why is our treasure in our 401k and not somewhere else? I know just how hard people have worked to establish these funds and savings and they have earned it. It is terribly unjust and unfair that what has happened has happened and I wish above wish that each penny taken will be returned. However, there is going to be an 'in the meantime' and we have to know how to best proceed with living in the meantime. If our faith is in man to fix these problems we face, then we are assured great disappointment. But if our faith is in a God that can do exceedingly and abundantly greater than we can fathom, what do we have to fear?

That is what I want you to consider this day and every day. God has never and will never abandon us. We are deeply loved by an awesome God who loves us so much that we have the gift of Christ; the PRINCE of peace. Let Christ dwell within your heart. Do not let your heart be troubled but rather let your heart be inhabited by peace. Fear not that which we cannot control, but be filled with the comfort of your faith and trust in God. God will provide for you, your families, your friends, your churches, your communities. Do not fear for God is alive and present.

In these times of great extremes, receive God's gift of peace and have No Fear!

God Bless you always and I pray that each of you will be aware and feel the comfort of the arms of the God who is protecting you.

For more information on No Fear the company and brand, please visit www.nofear.com. This post is not an official endorsement of the No Fear company, but rather a commentary on the motto.