“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine” (Isa 43:1). Is this the God who first heard these words from His creature just after sin came into Eden: “I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself” (Gen 3:10)?
When Harry Ironside was a young father, he would fix some chairs in a corner as his “den” and then play the part of a bear on all fours with his children. One day, his youngest panicked, crying out with fear as he ran into a corner and covered his face. But then suddenly he turned and ran right into his father’s arms, saying, “I’m not afraid. Not a bit afraid. You’re not a bear at all—you’re my very own papa!”
Ironside thought to himself, “Oh, God, that’s just the way I was once. I was running away from Thee. I was treating Thee as if Thou wert my enemy; as though the worst thing in the world would be to be brought into nearness with Thee. Thank You for running me down.” Yes, Lord, a “Thank You” from me, too!