Dear Friends,

Today’s devotional speaks first of all to the folly of envy. The people we often envy are just as miserable, if not more so, than we are and if we knew their stresses we would pity them rather than envy them. They too struggle with fear. Why? The Scripture text tells you how to overcome it. God bless you.

Because of Calvary,

John Janney

• Isaiah 43:1-2 (ESV)

  But now thus says the Lord,
  he who created you, O Jacob,
  he who formed you, O Israel:
  “Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
  I have called you by name, you are mine.
  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
  and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
  when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
  and the flame shall not consume you.

“Helen Hayes, whose reputation in the theater had already been established when she came to California on an MGM contract in 1931, remembered that early in her stay she was invited to a grand-scale Hollywood Party at the home of decorator Billy Haines. ‘It was so extravagant and wonderful,’ Helen recalled, ‘and yet everyone had a hunted expression. They told me, “Oh, you’re so lucky to be in the theater.” They were all complaining. And I finally said to Billy, “It surprised me. I thought everyone would be so happy out here. You’re secure, you have this great money coming in. These beautiful contracts with the big companies promoting you. I don’t understand why nobody is happy about it.” And Billy said, “Out here, you’re only as good as you last picture. And everybody is scared to death of what the next picture will bring.”’” [Brian Kellow, Ethel Merman: A Life, (New York: Penguin Books, 2007), p. 43]