ROOTED - Tuesday, April 14, 2026

Psalm 46:1-3

1 God is our refuge and
strength,

    a very present help in trouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth give
way,

    though the mountains be moved into the heart of
the sea,

3 though its waters roar and foam,

    though the mountains tremble at its swelling. 

Reflection: Why We Don’t Fear

Written By: Pastor Jesse Caro

I
need to read more Christian biographies. There are so many stories of godly
people that I want to read. Every couple of years I determine to read through
some of the many Christian biographies I have, and despite my intentions, I
never do so. I think of George Mueller, Nate Saint, Martin Luther, George
Whitfield, John Owen, Augustine… so many heroes of the faith that I want to
know more about. Do me a favor and hold me to my commitment to read some
Christian biographies this year!!! The first on my list is a biography by John
Piper. It is actually 21 small biographies of 21 people of faith, in one 800-page
volume… people like John Bunyan, Martin Luther, Athanasius, Augustin, John
Calvin, to name a few. The book: “21 Servants of Sovereign Grace: Faithful,
Flawed, and Fruitful.”

One
thing I think about is what it takes to be a martyr for the faith. The old book/biography,
Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, written by John Foxe (a Protestant historian
during the Protestant Reformation) in 1563, recounts the story of the great
faith of men and women who refused to deny Christ and were tortured and killed
for their faith. This is hard for us to get our heads around… but people die (and
have died) for Jesus all the time and through the centuries. People throughout
history have held firm to what we profess to the point of martyrdom. For those
people God was truly a refuge and strength. Though “the earth give way” and “the
mountains tremble,” many people in church history have died for their faith despite
the threat of death. For people who truly trust God, they “will not fear” or
lose heart. As the earth crumbles around them, they affirm that God is good. I need
to tap into some of that passion for Christ, deeply believing that God is good
even as the world falls apart. He is worth it.

Prayer

Heavenly
Father, help us to be deeply passionate for you and live a Christian life lacking
fear… willing to die for you, if need be.