Psalm 56:3-4
But when I am afraid, I will put
my confidence in you. Yes, I will trust the promises of God. And since I
am trusting him, what can mere man do to me?
The
Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois
60188. All rights reserved.
I’ve thought a lot over the
last few days about how I would feel if I were one of those people
lined up on the stage at the Bataclan concert hall in Paris and shot –
or one of the people in the crowd who had to stand by and watch this
unfold. I’ve thought of the journalists who were forced to kneel and
await their beheadings as terrorists created a video to share with the
world…those who were in the schools, theaters and other public venues
where mass shootings took place in recent years…and those who have heard
a doctor say, “Medically, we’ve done all we can do for you.”
Would
I be afraid? Would I panic? Would I want to scream and cry out,
“NO!”…or would I even be able to speak? Would my “life flash before my
eyes” as some say? Or would I slump my shoulders and raise my hands and
say, “Here I am LORD…usher me Home.”
I cannot say for sure how I would react – none of us can. And this passage seems to indicate that momentary fear is a normal, human reaction. But what follows makes all the difference…”when I am afraid, I will put my confidence in You.”
I love the question the Psalmist asks as a trusting believer – “What
can mere man do to me?”…because it speaks directly to our Christian
faith. If we believe God when He promises to take care of us and meet
all of our needs…how can we fear the words and actions of man – or even
the devil? If the outstretched arms of Jesus wait to enfold us in
Heaven, how can we fear going there? If we have been called to be
Disciples and share the love of Christ with ALL people, how can we fear
loving and nurturing people of all races, creeds, colors, ethnic groups,
sexual orientations, and religious beliefs?
This is not about
being naïve or throwing caution to the wind. It’s about refusing to let
the devil win by filling us with fear and worry. My goodness…all I
have to do is look at all that God has carried me through to see how
crucial it is that I trust Him in all things! His ways have ALWAYS been
better than mine…His love and protection have ALWAYS been stronger and
more powerful than any human’s. And I know beyond a shadow of a doubt
that He is not dropping His guard now!
Every single one of us has
opportunities to be fearful and worrisome…but we also have a God who
says, “I’ve got this!” Isn’t it time we started believing Him? Isn’t
it time we started to do all we can to honor God’s commitment to us by
committing to trust Him in return? Will this be the day that you raise
your hands toward Heaven and say, “I will put my confidence in You”…then live like you mean it?
©2015 Debbie Robus
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