Psalm 56 - 9.26.24
Psalm 56:3-4
S - 3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
4 In God, whose word I praise
in God I trust and am not afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?
O – This is another Psalm written by David when the Philistines had captured him in Gath. It reminds us to trust God’s care for us in the midst of fear. When all seems dark, one truth remains ….When God is for us, those against us will never succeed.
David was alone, desperate, and afraid. He was subjected to attacks, defamation, and slander from his enemies. David found himself fearing death and experiencing legitimate reasons to be afraid. (scripturalgrace.com)
A – Although we may not have anyone physically trying to capture or murder us, I am sure some of us can relate to things in our lives which can cause all-consuming fear. We too experience very real legitimate reasons to be afraid sometimes. Just watch all the political stuff for 5 minutes! This verse starts off by acknowledging the presence of fear…. WHEN I am afraid…However, we can choose to be like David and intentionally redirect our focus away from our fears by meditating on the character of God. David's heart overflowed with gratitude, leading him to praise God and place his unwavering trust in His presence. We can do that too!
Trusting God in the midst of fear is a choice we have to make daily…perhaps hourly some days. We humans have a very limited power over anything, but God’s power and His promises are limitless. WHY then do we spend so much time entertaining thoughts of fear and anxiety? Why do we let fear dictate how we feel and keep us from living the joyful life God wants us to live? With God on our side, we are more than conquerors. He has already given us victory over every earthly battle. We may never see the outcome of certain situations here and now, but we are promised that HE has already won the battle. It’s written throughout scripture:
1 Corinthians 15:57 - "But thanks be to God, He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
Deuteronomy 20:4 - "For the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory."
Psalm 108:13 - "With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies."
Romans: 31 31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
When you are faced with circumstances that bring overwhelming fear, the key to overcoming it lies in placing your trust in God Almighty. This involves actively experiencing and affirming His true nature as revealed in His Word. This happens by devoting time to reading His Word, by spending time with Him in prayer, and by journaling your thoughts and what He speaks to you. You will then be able to sense His reassuring and calming presence. It is through trusting God in this process that you can have confidence in His ability to intervene and bring about positive changes in your circumstances.
I currently have some things in my life that I am fearful over, but I am choosing to trust Him, abide in Him, persist in prayer and petition on behalf of those things, and know that He’s got me, as well as those I am praying for. I want to walk in His will and His way so that I can continue to be a vessel for Him while I am still here and able.
P – Lord Jesus, please help us to lay down any and all fears. Thank you that your Word is truth, and you have promised to fight for us. Thank you that we can unload that burden. Lord would you speak to anyone whose heart is filled with fear and/or anxiety in this moment. Would you replace that fear with a calm peace that can only come from you. Lord, help us to trust even though our circumstances may look unchanged at times, you ARE working for us and not against us. Help us remember that You love us, your plans for us are good and perfect. May the way we walk through our fears in a way that leads others to trust you with their fears and anxieties. May we walk through all the things thrown at us with assurance and confidence in the God we love to handle it for us….help us to pray and leave it all at the Throne! Help us to live lives that are FEARLESS!
In Jesus’ name, amen!
- Crystal Flory
