From the Home Place

December 4, 2025

I don’t know about you, but it sure enough feels like full blown winter to me. Eight degrees at 4:30 this morning, the ‘ol furnace can’t seem to take a breath, he’s constantly running.

The other day, I and some other fellers sorted and penned a little over a hundred head of bulls. Working with them in the alley, there was only one yearling that thought he should snort at some of the boys. He took a fair run at a group of them, sending each of them for cover. Meanwhile, I was standing up the alley some thirty feet, when he turned and headed my direction at a full run!

I stepped over by the fence and gave him plenty of room to get buy. The boss of the operation kind of scolded me for not climbing out of the alley when Mr. Bull went charging by. I could tell by looking at the little feller, he was way more afraid than he was mad. Sometimes pen-raised bulls get squirrely when all of a sudden, they are in situation where they find themselves all alone, not that much different than people.

People can be easily frightened when they find themselves in a stressful situation all by themselves. Alone and afraid is usually not a very good situation to be in. I figure that is why God told Joshua, the now lone leader of Israel, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord you God is with you wherever you go.”

The word “tremble,” used here in the New American Standard Translation, littrely means to be “terrified”. That was the look in that little bulls eyes the other day, he was terrified. I have seen that look in the eyes of humans as well, and just like the young bull, that kind of fear is usually read by others as anger. Which by the way, unless something or someone brings calm into the situation, anger is the very next step in this progression. That is why God told Joshua, “I am with you.”

In Joshua 1:9 we find a second important word, “dismayed.” This is a stronger word, meaning “terror.” Terror is a fear so deep seated that it takes the heart out of a person and causes extreme anxiety and fear. Terror is usually the understanding that a person is in extreme danger and a realization of eminent death! And once again, God reminds Joshua that all is well because God is with him. That little bull wasn’t taking a run at folks because he was wanting to hurt someone, no, he was afraid that someone was going to hurt him.

In Matthew 28:20, Jesus reminded His disciples as well of His constant presence with them. Why, because He knew that they were going to find themselves in situations when fear would take a run at them as well. The remedy for those first disciples, and for us today, is to realize that no matter the threat, Jesus is with us.

So, what has you stirred up today? What are you afraid of? Remember, if you don’t deal with the fear, it will most likely turn into anger, and you too will most likely take a run at someone. So, before you get to that level, stop, breath, fix your eyes upon Jesus, and calm down. He’s right there with you, His words, not mine.

Just like those first disciples, and just like Joshua, we can also be “strong and courageous” when we know that Jesus is with us! Remember, “trust and obey, for there is no other way.” It is truly amazing how Jesus can calm any storm, after we trust Him. You will recall that Peter trusted Jesus when Peter was sinking in fear, and the next scene of that story is Jesus in the boat with His disciples, bringing calm to the storm. I figure He can still do the same for us today!

Realizing the presence of God and the peace of God with you, Neal