A cure for fear

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Isaiah 10:1–11:16 
2 Corinthians 12:11-21 
Psalm 56:1-13 
Proverbs 23:6-8

TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Psalm 56:3-4 (ESV) "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?"

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

I love reading through the book of Psalms. While the Apostle Paul's New Testament letters are intellectually stimulating and written to the mind, David's psalms (and the other psalms) are emotionally stirring and written to the heart.

Psalm 56 is no different. In it, we read of David who was lamenting the fact that he had enemies against him. It appears that these enemies were the Philistines who had taken him captive. They intended great harm for him.

Yet, while he had more than enough reason to be afraid, he refused to succumb to that emotion. Why?

"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 56:3-4)

Do you see how he was able to combat legitimate reasons for fear? He put his trust in the Lord.

What did that look like? What does it mean to "put my trust in the Lord?" Here are a few ideas:

• He rested in the fact that nothing could happen unless God allowed it.
• He rested in the fact that even bad things were intended by a gracious God for his good.
• He rested in the fact that people are infinitely weaker than God and can only do what He allows.
• He rested in the fact that God was working out a wonderful plan even in the bad things that happened to him.

On and on we could go but you get the idea.

Will you trust in the Lord today? If you do, you will fear less. Rest in your Father's care. Your faith will be well placed.