‘So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ. ‘ Romans 10:17(NLT)
The Psalm of David
‘The Lord is my light and my salvation— so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble? When evil people come to devour me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident. The one thing I ask of the Lord — the thing I seek most— is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord ’s perfections and meditating in his Temple. For he will conceal me there when troubles come; he will hide me in his sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock. Then I will hold my head high above my enemies who surround me. At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy, singing and praising the Lord with music. Hear me as I pray, O Lord . Be merciful and answer me! My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “ Lord , I am coming.” Do not turn your back on me. Do not reject your servant in anger. You have always been my helper. Don’t leave me now; don’t abandon me, O God of my salvation! Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will hold me close. Teach me how to live, O Lord . Lead me along the right path, for my enemies are waiting for me. Do not let me fall into their hands. For they accuse me of things I’ve never done; with every breath they threaten me with violence. Yet I am confident I will see the Lord ’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living. Wait patiently for the Lord . Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord .’ Psalms 27:1-14(NLT)
Nobody is prepared to face a sudden and unexpected tragedy. The witnessing of traumatic events can bring on feelings of fear, anxiety, helplessness, or abandonment. If you are experiencing any of these feelings, you may be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Symptoms of PTSD include recurring nightmares, panic attacks, difficulty in concentrating, nervousness at sudden noises, difficulty in establishing emotional relationships, and hyper vigilance. Your fears are very real, and there is no reason why you should suffer in solitude and silence.
Our purpose all through these days is to comfort and strengthen you through the Word of God. We want you to be assured of the fact that God is with you and he hears your cries. The word “fear” and words such as “fearful” or “afraid” appear approximately 400 times in the Bible in 385 verses. As children of God, he wants us to be assured of his love and protection. For this reason, “Do not be afraid” are words that are repeated frequently throughout the Bible.
Draw strength from God’s words of comfort and assurance. Each day, feed your mind with the verses we are going to share and allow faith to grow in your heart. Remember that faith comes by hearing the Word of God.
God’s Word brings light in the darkest moments of our lives. In times of trouble, we have the certainty of his protection. As a matter of fact, in today’s reading, the psalmist asks God to listen to him when he prays. He needs God to answer his prayers; he is surrounded by enemies that are ready to attack him, as they are in the break out of war. His enemies are fierce, they make terrible threats, but he is not afraid of anyone.
All through Psalm 27, the writer describes the situation he is facing and, immediately after, he declares that his trust is in the Lord. He knows that God will take care of him and protect him. Sometimes, he even speaks to himself, exhorting his soul to trust the Lord and to be brave and strong.
This is such a beautiful lesson for us! How important it is to meditate on what is the truth—to remind ourselves of the truth about God. Instead of focusing on the situation that is surrounding us, we can choose to focus on the fact that God is faithful and that his promises are true.
God will never leave you nor forsake you, so today put your trust in him; he will keep you safe.
from [The Lord Keeps You Safe Series] God Hears Your Cries