One way we encourage ourselves is by looking back at God’s dealings with us in the past. We remind ourselves that he is the God who does not change.
This exhortation, ‘do not fear ‘, is the essence of faith. Do not fear says, ‘It is wrong to question your Christian faith.’ The tempter will say, ‘Are you certain you are saved?’, and you say, ‘I must review that.’ And another voice says, ‘Yes, it would be dishonest and unrealistic not to do so.’ So we continue with the review: ‘What happened there? Did God really answer that prayer?’, until faith has collapsed. Many people face doubts at some point, and it is so often because they forget that faith and assurance are almost the same thing. As soon you say, ‘I will reopen the whole issue’, the devil will say, ‘that is delusion’, but the right thing to do is to say, ‘I believe in Jesus Christ, and I am his child, and he has died for me.’ Even if you can only say that in your head, feelings will follow in due course. You have been given faith, now stand by it. We must nail our colours to the mast for Jesus Christ.