Experiencing God's Presence #131

In my desperation I prayed, and the LORD listened; he saved me from all my troubles.

Psalm 34:6

Many people think of fear as the opposite of faith. Perhaps that’s true, but in many ways, it’s simply another form of faith. It’s faith in a negative possibility—in the power of Satan or the ways of the world. It’s a statement that God might not protect or provide, that perhaps He isn’t guiding our steps or looking out for the best interests of all involved. Fear isn’t the absence of belief; it’s the absence of a belief in something God has said or an attribute that He has. But it’s a belief in its own right, or even a bundle of contrary beliefs that confuse and paralyze us. Fear reflects a real perspective.

David’s remedy for fear, found in this psalm, is simple. He cried to the Lord in his suffering, and God heard him. That’s it. There’s no secret formula here, no probing into deep-rooted psychological issues, no victim mentality. Just a plea and the knowledge that God heard. Clearly God answered—the psalm is a celebration of victory—and the situation changed. This, apparently, was enough to set David free from his fears.

Don’t let fear paralyze you. Let it serve as a symptom that faith is not yet fully developed in a certain area of your life. Recognize it as a sign that you are listening to a lie at some level in your heart. Expose the lie, replace it with truth, and believe. And God will set you free from all your fears.

Lord, I know You hear my pleas. You say so again and again. Help me recognize the lies I’m hearing, give me the resolve to stop agreeing with them, and fill my heart with Your truth about Your will for me.

From the book