“So we can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?’” (Hebrews 13:6).
Fear and confidence are two emotions we toggle between. However, we are not alone. Throughout Scripture, we find stories of people who, in one moment, showed great confidence in God, and the next moment they were filled with fear. I am sure we can all relate, at least I can. Since we face this challenge, how do we overcome it? Thankfully, the writer of Hebrews highlights a truth that should create a confidence in you that overcomes any fear.
What Does Hebrews 13:6 Mean?
To help you understand what Hebrews 13:6 means, I want to highlight three elements in this verse. There is a cause, an effect, and a reality. Let’s consider each one.
The Cause - The Lord Is My Helper
This is the cause that everything else in this verse hinges on. Without this truth, nothing else in this verse works. The first thing you need to do is allow this truth to sink into your heart.
The Lord is my helper.
That is a personal statement, and I would encourage you to spend some time meditating on it. The word “helper” means to bring the right aid in the time you need it. This means whenever you put your trust in the Lord as your helper, you can be confident he will bring the aid you need at just the right time. This truth sets up the effect in the next phrase.
The Effect - I Will Not Be Afraid
Because you know the Lord is the one helping you, then you don’t need to worry or be afraid. Sometimes this is where we struggle the most because there are many things in life that can create fear in you. I could list them, but I think you have a pretty good idea of what can cause fear in your life.
However, in the face of fear, you must remind yourself the Lord is your helper. So often, the reason we become afraid is that we focus on the problem and forget the Lord is our helper. In my life, every time I have taken my eyes off this truth that the Lord is my helper, it has always caused my anxiety and worry to go up.
When we magnify the problem, God seems small. But when we magnify God, the problem seems small. This creates confidence and helps you overcome fear. You know that not only will God bring the right aid at the right time, but he won’t leave you or forsake you.
That’s why the key to not being afraid in life is shifting your focus. You don’t overcome fear by telling yourself “I will not be afraid.” You overcome fear by reminding yourself “the Lord is my helper.” Because he is your helper, he will bring peace, provision, protection, or whatever you need. And he will bring it at the right time. It is only when this truth comes alive in your heart that you can honestly say I will not be afraid.
The Reality - What Can Mere Mortals Do to Me?
To understand this reality completely, we must consider it from both a temporary and eternal perspective. This verse is not saying that people can’t affect your life, because we know that is not true. The decisions and choices people make can cause tremendous pain in your life. That’s why you must also view this verse from an eternal perspective. When you strip life down to the things that really matter, what can a man really do to you? They can’t take away your salvation. They cannot rob you of your joy. While they may affect things of temporary value, they cannot take away anything in your life of eternal value.
- A man may take away your job, but they cannot take away the fact that God is your provider.
- A man may take away your earthly possessions, but they cannot take away your treasures in heaven.
- A man may even take away your life, but they cannot take away the fact that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.
Contributing Writer: Clarence L. Haynes Jr.