‘I prayed to the Lord , and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears.’ Psalms 34:4(NLT)
‘I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! ‘ John 15:11(NLT)
‘Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.’ 1 Peter 5:7(NLT)
‘But in my distress I cried out to the Lord ; yes, I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry to him reached his ears.’ Psalms 18:6(NLT)
‘I love the Lord because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy. Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath! Death wrapped its ropes around me; the terrors of the grave overtook me. I saw only trouble and sorrow. Then I called on the name of the Lord : “Please, Lord , save me!” How kind the Lord is! How good he is! So merciful, this God of ours! The Lord protects those of childlike faith; I was facing death, and he saved me.’ Psalms 116:1-6(NLT)
Psalms 34:4
David had already experienced a number of terrors in his young life: a lion, a bear, and a giant pagan warrior. Now, the jealous, unstable king of his own nation was pursuing him. Most recently, he had foolishly fled into enemy territory, where he found himself staring straight into the eyes of Gath’s king and his guards. In each of these terrifying circumstances, David’s life was on the line. Gripped by the gravity of the situation at hand, David sought the Lord, earnestly asking Him for His guidance and protection. In every case, God heard and answered by giving him strength and guidance. The Lord had delivered David from these dangers by empowering him to fight his enemy or by showing him how to escape.
You may not be going up against a lion, bear, or giant pagan warrior. Your fears may be more internal. You may be battling the fear of cultural pressures, of failure, or incompetence, or even of committing to something. With David, his eyes that were darkened with doom suddenly sparkled with courage, hope, and joy. When you give your fears to the Lord, He can change your crippling anxieties into courage, hope, and joy.
Study Questions:
- Are you seeking Christ in the midst of your fears?
- How can you seek Christ while also battling internal or external fears?
- Christ wants to lift you from the burden of carrying your fears all by yourself. He wants to guide you and protect you. Discover what it looks like for you to release your fears to God, and for him to change those fears into courage, hope, and joy.
from Finding Freedom From Fear