What Are You Afraid Of? - Your Daily Forward Devotional

What Are You Afraid Of?

April 16

Read Psalm 56:3-4 (ESV)

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?

Reflect

Are you feeling any fear right now? If so, what are you afraid of?

It is a fearful time for many. There are health concerns, economic issues, political unrest, and wars being fought throughout the world. Fear is a natural response to these things. But if we have put our trust in God and placed saving faith in Jesus Christ, we have nothing to fear!

That is what David was expressing in today’s verse. David had a lot to be afraid of throughout his life. He was pursued by many enemies. Sometimes he had to fight for his life as a warrior and other times he had to run for his life and hide from those who wanted him dead.

When we read the beginning of this psalm, we gain some context for the fear that David was facing. He wrote, “Be gracious to me, O God, for man trampled on me; all day long an attacker oppresses me; my enemies trample on me all day long, for many attack me proudly” (Psalm 56:1-2). David was under attack by men. The title of the psalm identifies the incident David is lamenting as the time the Philistines seized him in Gath. You can read about it in 1 Samuel 21:10-15.

And yet, he confidently placed his trust in God. Why? Because he knew that men are limited in their ability to truly harm him. He was in God’s hands. What could men of mere flesh and blood do to him? He belonged to the Almighty God!

I love how David ends Psalm 56. After lamenting over his trouble and pouring out his fear to God, he turns to praise. Even before God intervened. His circumstances hadn’t changed. Still, he thanked God in advance. He wrote: “This I know, that God is for me. In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid, what can man do to me? I must perform my vows to you, O God; I will render thank offerings to you. For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life” (Psalm 56:9b-13).

In Matthew 10:28-32, Jesus Himself confirmed that we shouldn’t fear anything that can take our mortal lives but not our eternal souls: “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.”

Friends, if you have acknowledged Jesus Christ as Lord and placed your faith in Him for your salvation, He won’t deny you. You belong to Him. You are valuable to Him. He even knows the number of hairs on your head. Covid or any other disease could take your life. Our country could fall apart. We could lose our jobs and struggle to pay our bills and feed our families. World war 3 could start. But none of that changes our eternal destiny. Those things can kill our bodies but they have no claim to our souls. It’s ok to be afraid. It’s a scary world out there. But let’s do like David did. When we are afraid, let’s put our trust in the Lord. After all, what can this world do to you?

Pray

Lord, there is so much in the world that scares me. And yet, I know that I belong to You. You watch over me so closely that the hairs on my head are all counted. So I thank You and praise You, God. I put my trust in You because I know that You have delivered my soul from death. The world can’t hurt me. Amen.

~ Pastor Nat Crawford

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