got fear?

I hate being alone at night … and Satan knows it.  As soon as I let a little apprehension slip in, he pounces, feeding my imagination with images from crime shows I’ve watched.  Maybe you suffer with other fears.  Well, I searched the Bible for verses to soothe my anxiety-filled mind.  Here are a few.  (After you read them, I’ll tell you what I realized!)

I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. (Psalm 4:8)

I will fear no evil, for you are with me; (Psalm 23:4)

I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. (Psalm 34:4)

If you make the Most High your dwelling — even the Lord, who is my refuge — then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. (Psalm 91:9,10)

O Lord, you will keep us safe and protect us from such people forever. (Psalm 12: 7)

You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. (Psalm 32:7)

When I am afraid, I will trust in you. (Psalm 56:3)

The Lord is my light and my salvation — whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the stronghold of my life — of whom shall I fear? (Psalm 27:1)

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear … (Psalm 46: 1,2)

You will not fear the terror of night … (Psalm 91:5)

Here is what I realized:  David knew what he was talking about!  He knew from whence his help would come! (Psalm 121:2)

I knew that I had to face this fear head-on.  I didn’t have to live like this any longer.  What I lacked was faith.  I needed to trust in God in ALL things, including fear. 

In “Traveling Light” by Max Lucado, he tells us to read Luke 22: 39-44 (Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane).  We turn to it when we look the same.  We read it when we feel the same.  We read it when we feel afraid.  For isn’t it likely that fear is one of the emotions Jesus felt?

And what did Jesus do?  He prayed.  The first one to hear his fear was his Father. 

Like Jesus, David turned to God as well.

Fix your eyes on God when you’re afraid.  Turn your eyes upon Jesus.  He of all people understands your fear.