From “The Language of the Soul: Meeting God in the Longings of Our Hearts” by Jeff Crosby
One of the most common refrains in Scripture is the simple admonition, “Be not afraid.” Nearly one hundred uses of that phrase are found from Genesis to Zechariah in the Old Testament, and from Matthew to Revelation in the New Testament. Deuterocanonical books such as Tobit, Judith, Sirach, Maccabees, and Esdras, likewise contain passages exhorting their hearers and readers to “be not afraid” or “fear not.” The repetition throughout Scripture and within its individual portions suggests to me it’s something that invites our attention and seeks our response.