Dear Readers,
there are sentences in the Bible that speak straight to the heart. “Do not be afraid. Just believe!” These words are spoken by Jesus in the Gospel of Mark to a father whose world is falling apart. Jairus has just learned that his daughter has died. All hope seems useless. And this is what is remarkable: Jesus takes fear seriously — but He does not allow it to have the final word.
Perhaps we know such moments as well. A late-night phone call. A diagnosis that changes everything. Worries about the future. Fear for a loved one. Sometimes it is not as dramatic as it was for Jairus — and yet for us it feels existential. Thoughts keep circling. The heart grows heavy. And fear whispers: “It’s over. It’s not enough. You can’t do this.”
“Just believe” does not mean: suppress your feelings. Nor does it mean: always be confident and unshakable. Here, faith means: hold on. Remain in trust, even when you are trembling. Do not let fear decide, but God’s promise.
“Do not be afraid” is one of the most frequent assurances in the Bible. It runs through God’s story with humanity — from Abraham to Moses to the disciples. It is as if God keeps saying: I see your fear. But I am greater. I am with you.
I invite you to trust in this word — not only because it is our annual motto for 2026. It is always true. It is not worries that should guide us, but trust.
Kind regards,
Wolfram Laube