We live in a world that is constantly plagued by fear. It is very easy for us to fear especially the unknown. Someone once said that the unknown is only that which is temporarily hidden. At other times we fear illness, poverty, family disruption, war, famine and the future.
For those who place their trust in the Lord, however, it’s different, because those who do so are in the hands of an omniscient, omnipotent, heavenly Father. They can face with confidence any difficult situation that comes along.
Psalm 56:1-13 was written by David when the Philistines captured him in Gath. This was likely written on the same occasion as Psalm 34, when David fled from Saul to Philistine territory. He had to pretend insanity before Achish when some servants grew suspicious of him (1 Samuel 21:10-15).
Yet, if you notice Psalm 56:3, David made a very simple but concise statement, “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.” David stated in this Psalm, “What can flesh do to me?” How much harm can people do to us? They can inflict pain, suffering and death, but no person can rob us of our souls or our future beyond this life. How much harm can we do to ourselves? The worst thing we can do is to reject God and lose our eternal future with Him. Jesus said, “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul” (Matthew 10:28). Instead, we should fear God, who controls this life and the next.
Even in our deepest sorrow, God cares! Jesus reminded us further of how much God understands us – He knows even the number of hairs on our heads (Matthew 10:30). Often we waver between faith and fear.
Henry Durbanville wrote this about the gifted fourth-century preacher John Chrysostom (c. 347–407).
Exiled from the position which he held as the greatest preacher of his age, this noble man refused to be intimidated. “What can I fear?” he asks. “Will it be death? But you know that Christ is my life, and that I shall gain by death. Will it be exile? But the earth and all its fullness are the Lord’s. Will it be loss of wealth? But we brought nothing into this world and can carry nothing out. Thus all the terrors of the world are contemptible in my eyes, and I smile at all its good things. Poverty I do not fear, riches I do not sigh for, and from death I do not shrink.”
Can we all say this? With God as our Father, Christ as our Savior, and the Word of God as our Guide, we can face every situation with perfect confidence in the One who conquers fear. When you feel so discouraged that you’re sure no one understands, remember that God knows every problem and sees every fear you have. The best antidote for fear is faith in God.
