An insurance adjuster was speaking to a farmer. “I see here, Mr. Jones, that you want to receive compensation for your arm, which you claim was broken in the accident.”

“That’s right, sir.”

“But Mr. Jones, according to this police report, you told the officer at the scene, that you were not injured.”

“Well, you see, it was like this. I was riding in my wagon with a load of chickens when a truck hit us. The officer arrived right away. One of the chickens was cackling something fierce. The officer asked what was wrong with her and I told him that her wing was broken. He said that he wanted to take her out of her pain, and he shot her. My horse, Ole Nellie, was lying on the road, and he asked what was wrong with her. I told him that her leg was broken. He said he wanted to put her out of her misery and shot her. So, you see, when he asked me if I was hurt, I said ‘No sir, I never felt better.’”

What influenced the farmer in our story? The same thing that influences millions of people every day. Fear. It’s understandable, living in a society such as this. There is danger everywhere. However, the opposite of fear is faith. We have a heavenly Father that we can trust in, who only wants the best for His children. There are many dangers in this world that we should do our best to avoid, but we should also remember, no matter what situation may befall us, God is fully in control.

2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.