Living In Freedom

Living in Freedom

I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. Psalm 34:4-5

These verses tell us that although fear is a normal, human reaction to danger or crisis, God has an answer for our fear. We may fear death, failure, or people. We may be frightened about taking a new step, fearful of suffering, or afraid of what might happen tomorrow. Whatever it is, we don’t have to be ashamed of being afraid or stuff our fears and try to look brave. Instead, the very fear that plagues us can be a handle that presses us into the Lord’s presence. He invites us to pray to him and to lay down our fears instead of being paralyzed by them.

The psalm from which today’s verses are taken reminds us to fear and take refuge in God and go to him instead of turning to others (see Psalm 34). But often we tend to take our fears everywhere except to God. We might tell our best friend, the person on the other end of the crisis hotline, or our sister across the country via e-mail. It’s great to have friends when we’re stressed or afraid, but God is the One who can do something about our concerns and problems.

An amazing thing happens when we are willing to open up to the Lord about our fears. A great exchange takes place, and in return for our giving our fears to him, he infuses us with faith, hope, and love. As F. B. Meyer said, “God incarnate is the end of fear; and the heart that realizes that he is in the midst . . . will be quiet in the midst of alarm.” —CHERI

Lord, I look to you to deliver me from all my fears. Thank you for your promise that you answer me, free me from fear and shame, and cause me to be radiant with joy.

Fear imprisons, faith liberates; fear paralyzes, faith encourages; fear sickens, faith heals; fear makes useless, faith makes serviceable and, most of all, fear puts hopelessness at the heart of life, while faith rejoices in its God.

—HARRY EMERSON FOSDICK (1878–1969), AMERICAN CLERGYMAN