When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
Fear is an interesting emotion. Just about everyone has experienced the heart wrenching, gut kicking, grip of fear in their lives. When we experience that level of emotion, it has a tendency to so overpower us that we are unable to see things clearly – it effectively incapacitates us. Fear is a natural response that God gave us to help us to survive. Without fear, we would most probably do things that no level-headed person would ever consider doing.
The Bible indicates that fear has to do with punishment. Yet we are told to fear God. In the latter case, this is a reverent trust in God; not a gripping, emotional aversion. How we respond in circumstances is a witness to the power and glory of God. When we show fear, we are in effect saying that we cannot trust God to deliver us from our circumstances. While this may seem odd, you may want to take a look at the life of King Hezekiah when Assyria was threatening the kingdom of Judah.
When we trust in the Lord, even when there seems to be no way to victory, it brings glory to God, and strengthens our faith. The reason we trust is because God is faithful. And in that, we are able to be faithful, regardless of the issues that plague us. We trust in God for the big stuff – Salvation, Resurrection, Eternal Life, etc. But we are told to have faith like little children. They don’t question – they have complete, unwavering faith in their parents, especially when they don’t understand something.
So let’s ask the question: Are we trusting God in the little stuff?
A short prayer of preparation:
Father in Heaven, in my times of need, please drive all fear out of my heart so that I may be able to trust you more. My fear gets in the way of trusting that You are who You say You are. Deepen my faith in these times, Lord God, and help me to respond in a way that glorifies Your name. You have revealed Yourself as faithful so that others may see Your faithfulness and trust in You. Do not let my emotions instruct my will to direct my intellect; rather, help my intellect to instruct my will so that it can direct my emotions. You are able to do this and far more than we can ever imagine, Lord God. Help me to be faithful to You in childlike faith and trust. This I ask and pray in Jesus’ name, Amen
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CHRIST ALLIANCE CHURCH 