Psalm 56:3–4
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?
What we do when we are afraid reflects the trust in our hearts and what our hearts seek. Fear is an indicator of that which we worship and what we depend upon when all seems lost.
We will either depend upon God and seek Him with all our hearts, or we will seek that which is created. Our hearts are so easily manipulated to deny the nearness, the sovereignty, and the power of God that we are many times seduced by the life we perceive rather than living life according to the Word of God.
For God has said in His Word, “I am the one who comforts you; who are you that you are afraid of man? Of the son of man who is made like grass, and have forgotten the Lord your Maker?”
We must go to the Lord and meditate on His Word, trusting in Him with all our hearts. For nothing can happen to you that God does not allow. He will withhold nothing for your good. This does not mean He will not bring us through trials or discipline us in ways that cause us pain, but we say with Job, “Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?”
Our aim is not to understand or define our lives by our circumstances; our aim is to know God. We are to look to God and trust His goodness. In the midst of pain and sorrow we are to look to the Lord and trust His Word, knowing He is good. Nothing can add to or take away from His goodness, and in light of this we say along with our King, “Nevertheless, not my will, but Yours be done.”
Isaiah 51:12, Psalm 84:11, Job 2:10, Luke 22:42
Father, You are good and I trust You. Your goodness does not change; Your purposes and ways are sure and true, and in You I trust and will not be moved. Lord, forgive me, for I have not always stood on Your Word. Instead, I have stood on my emotions or perceptions; I have ceased to praise You and I have not trusted in Your Word. Please hide Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You! Guard my heart from stoicism and allow me to know Your goodness regardless of what You ordain. Thank You for Christ. Amen