Psalm 56:1 KJV Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me. 2 Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O thou most High. 3 What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. 4 In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.
We are afraid of many things but other people is not to be one of them. Yet we all have been or are afraid of someone who is bigger and stronger than us which makes us feel helpless. When we believe no one is listening we become discouraged and angry because we are tired of being put in a situation of fear. So, how do we overcome our fear when we are in a situation where someone wants to harm us in some way?
Notice God knows we will be afraid. Do not deny you are afraid but don’t stop in your fear.
How do we move from I am afraid to, ” I will not fear?”
When we are afraid we choose to put our trust in God. We must make the choice everyday to trust in God to protect us from the people who want to harm us. This is a big trust especially when it seems as if there is no one to stop them. We do not always understand why God allows stressful situations in our life but understanding is not the answer, trusting in God is the answer.
How do we do that? We do not trust anyone until they prove to us who they are. We must know who God is and the first step to knowing God is through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. Then we read God’s word, the bible, because this is how God choose to tell us who He is. In the bible we learn how God thinks, feels, and acts. In the verses above God says, I know there are times you will be afraid and here is the solution to your fear. Choose to trust Me, praise Me, and believe I am greater than the one hurting you.
There are times this is very hard because it has gone on for so long but this is where these verses help us. David, the one who is afraid, was chased by his enemies for 20 years but one day God put a stop to it all. God will do the same
for us because,
1 Peter 5:6 KJV Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
When we choose to trust God and praise Him we are humbling ourself under Him as the One who is our helper in time of need. This is not easy when fear wants to paralyze us but knowing what God says about fear will help you fight the battle to win.
1 John 4:18 KJV There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19 We love him, because he first loved us.
Start here, we love God because He loved us first. I did not do anything for God to love me. I did not know God loved me until I received the gift of God’s grace by faith in Christ (Eph. 2:8-10). Now I know God loves me and His love is perfect so when I am afraid I know my eyes are not on Jesus Christ but on the situation. Here is a thought God has toward us.
Jeremiah 29:11 KJV For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart
