Be Not Afraid

I was talking with a friend today.  She is in a time of some uncertainty.  As I think about it, almost all of my friends are in some time of transition or uncertainty—looking for a new job, starting a new job, beginning a new relationship, moving to a new home, or having a new baby.    

This reminded me one of my favorite songs I’ve learned at Church of the Servant, “Come, Holy Ghost.”  I first heard it sung by the choir as they prepared for a service.  It was during the first month or two I was at COS, just trying to get my bearings.  The chorus really struck me: “Be not afraid, where you go there I am with.”  At that time, the words floating through the church building set me at peace.  Even though I was in a new place doing a new thing, God was with me there, too.  I didn’t need to be afraid, because God was with me.

I did some research on the song today and found that the words are attributed to the early church.  The chorus was added and it was set to music by Ray Mills and Bruce Benedict a few years ago.  You can listen to this setting on their website.

So for all of us in some time of transition, this is my prayer:

Come, Holy Ghost, Creator blest, And in our hearts take up Thy rest; 

Come with thy grace and heav'nly aid to fill our hearts which thou hast made, 

To fill our hearts which Thou has made. 

 

O Comforter, to thee we cry, Thou heav'nly gift of God most high; 

Thou fount of life, and fire of love, And sweet anointing from above, 

And sweet anointing from above. 

Chorus: 

Be not afraid, where you go there I am with you. (2x) 

 

O Holy Ghost, through thee alone, Know we the Father and the Son; 

Be this our firm unchanging creed, That thou dost from them both proceed, 

That thou dost from them both proceed. 

Praise we the Lord, Father and Son, And Holy Spirit with them one; 

And may the Son on us bestow all gifts that from the Spirit flow, 

All gifts that from the Spirit flow.

Photo by Messiah Lutheran (Mechanicsville, VA), http://www.flickr.com/photos/mlcas/6970671144/, November 16, 2012.

Used under Creative Commons License.