Don't Be Afraid. God is With You.

Whether you’re following news stories or just going through your daily life, it seems there are plenty of scary things happening.
 
If I’m completely honest, there are many things that scare me. You might feel the same way. It would be easy to let fear overtake us, paralyzing us or causing us to make bad decisions.
 
But facing fear is not a new problem. In the Bible, we learn that even David faced scary situations. He went from protecting sheep to fighting a giant to fleeing from the then-king of Israel, Saul. And those are just a few scary incidents that David faced. 
 
In this week’s reading, we learn from the Psalms how David dealt with his fear. And it’s a lesson we can all apply to our own lives.
 
The first three verses of Psalm 27 directly address some of David’s fears:
 
[1] The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
[2] When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall.
[3] Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident. (ESV)
 
In these verses, David actually lists some of the specific things that he fears:
 

• evildoers (v2)
• adversaries and foes (v2)
• armies (v3)
• war (v3)

 
While we may never personally face a giant, be chased by an angry ruler, or rule a nation, David’s fears seem very relatable to me. I think that most of us can relate to being afraid of bad people, people who dislike us, or of war. (And it doesn’t take too much imagination to think of other scary things as well.) 
 
But even though David lists his fears, notice the reminder in Psalm 27, verse 1: 
 
The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life… (ESV)
 
In case you don’t know, a stronghold is a protected place, similar to a fortress. David states that God’s salvation is his stronghold. As believers, we can claim the same thing. While God doesn’t promise that things will always turn out the way that we want them to, He is our stronghold no matter what is happening in the world or in our life. 
 
In another Psalm we studied earlier in the week, we learn yet another reason we don’t have to be afraid: God is always with us. There’s nothing we need face alone. This can also be a powerful antidote to fear.
 
Psalm 23 paints a picture of the Lord guiding as through life, similar to how a shepherd guides a helpless sheep. The Psalm is a beautiful illustration and one of my favorites. But for me, the verse that really stands out is this one:
 
[3] Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (ESV)
 
In this verse, David teaches us that no matter how bad things get, we are never alone. The valley of the shadow of death sounds like a dreadful place. But even in such an awful place, there’s no reason to be afraid. God will be there with us.
 
Are you struggling with fear? 
 
As a believer, remember the lessons learned from Psalms:
 

• God is your salvation and stronghold.
• God will be with you through even the worst of times.

 
Because of these two facts, you don’t need to be afraid. God is with you.

These articles follow our church-wide reading plan. Read with us!