Where can I turn when I feel overwhelmed by those who are against me?

Psalm 3:1-2, 5O Lord, I have so many enemies; so many are against me. So many are saying, “God will never rescue him!” . . . I lay down and slept, yet I woke up in safety, for the Lord was watching over me.

Psalm 43:1Declare me innocent, O God! Defend me against these ungodly people. Rescue me from these unjust liars.

Psalm 59:1-2Rescue me from my enemies, O God. Protect me from those who have come to destroy me. Rescue me from these criminals; save me from these murderers.

Psalm 71:1-5, 14O Lord, I have come to you for protection; don’t let me be disgraced. Save me and rescue me, for you do what is right. Turn your ear to listen to me, and set me free. Be my rock of safety where I can always hide. Give the order to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. My God, rescue me from the power of the wicked, from the clutches of cruel oppressors. O Lord, you alone are my hope. I’ve trusted you, O Lord, from childhood. . . . But I will keep on hoping for your help; I will praise you more and more.

Psalm 119:134Ransom me from the oppression of evil people; then I can obey your commandments.

Psalm 140:1-2O Lord, rescue me from evil people. Protect me from those who are violent, those who plot evil in their hearts and stir up trouble all day long.

Psalm 143:9Rescue me from my enemies, Lord; I run to you to hide me.

Psalm 144:11Save me! Rescue me from the power of my enemies. Their mouths are full of lies; they swear to tell the truth, but they lie instead.

When we feel overwhelmed by opposition, we should turn to God because only he can always help us. Although our enemies may think they have us trapped, they underestimate the power of the God we serve.

Deuteronomy 33:27The eternal God is your refuge, and his everlasting arms are under you. He drives out the enemy before you; he cries out, ‘Destroy them!’

Psalm 18:48You hold me safe beyond the reach of my enemies; you save me from violent opponents.

Psalm 46:1God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.

Psalm 91:1-4Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.

Isaiah 51:12“I, yes I, am the one who comforts you. So why are you afraid of mere humans, who wither like the grass and disappear?”

When we feel overwhelmed by opposition, we should seek God’s protection. He is strong where we are weak. He is our haven of safety when we are vulnerable and under attack. We can be encouraged that we have the very power and presence of God defending us.

2 Samuel 5:17-19When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king of Israel, they mobilized all their forces to capture him. But David was told they were coming, so he went into the stronghold. The Philistines arrived and spread out across the valley of Rephaim. So David asked the Lord, “Should I go out to fight the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?” The Lord replied to David, “Yes, go ahead. I will certainly hand them over to you.”

Psalm 5:8Lead me in the right path, O Lord, or my enemies will conquer me. Make your way plain for me to follow.

When we feel overwhelmed by opposition, we should seek God’s direction and instructions. We may be out of options, but he is the God of unlimited resources.

Joshua 6:2-10The Lord said to Joshua, “I have given you Jericho, its king, and all its strong warriors. You and your fighting men should march around the town once a day for six days. Seven priests will walk ahead of the Ark, each carrying a ram’s horn. On the seventh day you are to march around the town seven times, with the priests blowing the horns. When you hear the priests give one long blast on the rams’ horns, have all the people shout as loud as they can. Then the walls of the town will collapse, and the people can charge straight into the town.” So Joshua called together the priests and said, “Take up the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant, and assign seven priests to walk in front of it, each carrying a ram’s horn.” Then he gave orders to the people: “March around the town, and the armed men will lead the way in front of the Ark of the Lord.” After Joshua spoke to the people, the seven priests with the rams’ horns started marching in the presence of the Lord, blowing the horns as they marched. And the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant followed behind them. Some of the armed men marched in front of the priests with the horns and some behind the Ark, with the priests continually blowing the horns. “Do not shout; do not even talk,” Joshua commanded. “Not a single word from any of you until I tell you to shout. Then shout!”

When we feel overwhelmed by opposition, we should respond in obedience to God. We may not always understand why he leads us where he leads us, but if we follow, we will be victorious.

Deuteronomy 20:1“When you go out to fight your enemies and you face horses and chariots and an army greater than your own, do not be afraid. The Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you!”

1 Samuel 14:6“Let’s go across to the outpost of those pagans,” Jonathan said to his armor bearer. “Perhaps the Lord will help us, for nothing can hinder the Lord. He can win a battle whether he has many warriors or only a few!”

2 Samuel 22:1-3, 40David sang this song to the Lord on the day the Lord rescued him from all his enemies and from Saul. He sang: “The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. He is my refuge, my savior, the one who saves me from violence. . . . You have armed me with strength for the battle; you have subdued my enemies under my feet.”

Ezra 8:31We broke camp at the Ahava Canal on April 19 and started off to Jerusalem. And the gracious hand of our God protected us and saved us from enemies and bandits along the way.

Psalm 27:1The 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?

Matthew 10:28-31“Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.”

When we feel overwhelmed by opposition, we should trust God for the outcome. Evil cannot defeat God, and if we are on his side, we need not fear.