Be Not Afraid

Years ago I was told of a little boy who had been given a part in the church’s Easter play. In the role of the angel at the empty tomb, he had one line. That line was: "It is I, be not afraid." To his credit the boy practiced that line: "It is I, be not afraid." In spite of his practicing, the day of the service the boy was a wretched wreck. His stomach churned as his teacher coached him. Finally, he walked out on the stage, saw the hundreds of faces looking right at him. His mind went blank; his tongue kept working. Rather than saying, “It is I, be not afraid,” he said, "It’s me, and I’m scared to death."