Do not fear what they fear,
and do not dread it.

Isaiah 8:12b

When the world around us is in turmoil (and it seems that we are constantly in a state of chaos), Isaiah reminds the people of God to avoid fear. There is nothing to dread.

Instead, we are to respond in fear and awe of the LORD –

But the LORD of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.

Isaiah 8:13

This passage reminds me of Jesus’ words in Matthew’s Gospel –

 “Do not be afraid of them, for nothing is hidden that will not be revealed,and nothing is secret that will not be made known. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light, and what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the housetops. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the one who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Matthew 10:26-28

When we react in fear due to our circumstances, we are essentially falling for the trap of fearing other men, so our fear should be directed to the one who has the ultimate say over our lives. We should fearfully reverence God above all and in that we can have confidence that there is nothing to fear and dread from the world around us.