Fear

 

Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me; all day long an attacker oppresses me; my enemies trample on me all day long, for many attack me proudly. When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? (Psalm 56:1-4 ESV).

 

Fear is one of the most common emotional responses to the future with destructive consequence. It is the enemy’s most popular weapon that he uses to steal away our peace and joy. Worry, anxiety, fear can overwhelm us with a thick shadow of darkness, controlling our every move and decision. Of course there is reason to be concerned with the future. So much crazy going on around us today - wars, conflicts, persecution, violence, crime, natural disasters, terrorism, economic uncertainty, unemployment, divisions, disease, death. We fear for our children’s future, we fear for our families, we fear for our financial future, we fear for our safety. The list goes on and on. There actually is a lot we could potentially worry about.

 

Yet reality tells us that so much of what we spend our time worrying about never even happens. Living under the weight of the "what if's" is a hard place to dwell. What does the psalmist advise: When I am afraid, I put my trust in you (v. 3). For me this means recalling words of life and truth until they became so familiar they replace the other things in my mind that seem to overcome me. There’s nothing magical about words and verses, but there is power through them because they’re God’s words. Change happens. Anxious thoughts began to diminish. Worry lets go of its constant grip. And though fear is sometimes still there, it no longer wields control, holding me back, paralyzing me in its grasp. 

 

The words of Scripture are “life” words, soothing to our soul, calming to our spirits, giving power to our days. It’s not always easy, and it often comes down to a choice: choosing not to allow fear and anxiety to control your life; choosing to guard your heart; and, choosing to focus your mind on what is true in the midst of uncertain times.

 

We might still feel afraid, but we can believe that God is with us. We may not be in control, but we can trust the One who is. We may not know the future, but we can know the God who does. Turn you fear into faith. Plan wisely and trust God to make all of your course corrections. He will not fail you!