Have No Fear, Little Flock (ELW 764)
1 Have no fear, little flock;
have no fear, little flock,
for the Father has chosen to give you the kingdom;
have no fear, little flock!
2 Have good cheer, little flock;
have good cheer, little flock,
for the Father will keep you in his love forever;
have good cheer, little flock!
3 Praise the Lord high above;
praise the Lord high above,
for he stoops down to heal you,
uplift and restore you;
praise the Lord high above!
4 Thankful hearts raise to God;
thankful hearts raise to God,
for he stays close beside you,
in all things works with you;
thankful hearts raise to God!
Devotion
This sweet, simple hymn endeared itself to me years ago. When I am feeling fearful, whether it is due to personal circumstances or the chaos in the world, this hymn always brings me comfort and reassurance.
The first stanza is a close rendering of Luke 12:32. The remaining stanzas were written by Marjorie Jillson, who suffered from multiple lifelong health issues. She was no stranger to pain, and she must have experienced fear and doubt. And yet, sustained by God’s unfailing love, Jillson’s response was one of gratitude and faithfulness. She once said, “What I learned from my own illness is that God will restore you, even if your body has to die first.”
Life is filled with joy and wonder. It is also filled with pain and sorrow. God is with us through it all, holding us in everlasting love.
Prayer
We lift our thankful hearts to you, O God, for even in the midst of life’s most difficult circumstances, you are with us. Make your loving presence known this day—especially to all who are suffering in body, mind, or spirit. Amen.