Seeking God in fear...

A couple of things stuck out to me as I did my Bible reading tonight - but there is one in particular I want to mention:

2 Chronicles 20.3
"Jehoshaphat was afraid and turned his attention to seek the Lord."

Often we are told "do not be afraid." Instead we need to be resolved and determined and "get 'er done" in spite of the fear.

Now, granted, there is some truth to the whole "do not be afraid" thing - God said it to Joshua and the angel said it to Mary and Jesus said it to his disciples... But they were encouraging the ones they were talking to not to dwell in fear or be overcome by it. They weren't telling them to dig deep inside themselves to conquer all.

Sometimes fear is a natural and appropriate response... say, when your kingdom is about to be invaded by a multitude of armies. It's not so much the feeling of fear that is the issue, but what we do with it. Jehoshaphat was afraid and turned his attention to seek the Lord.

Isn't that what we should do?

Do you?