Readings for today: Psalms 56, 120, 140-142
“What can mere men do to me?” It’s a question David asked after finding himself in the Philistine city of Gath. Having fled for his life from King Saul, he now found himself in danger once again as the servants of King Achish sought his life. They knew his history. Goliath, their ancient champion, had been from Gath. David had spent his entire military career up to that point killing “tens of thousands” of Philistines or at least that’s what the Israelites claimed when they sang about him. Now he was at the mercy of his enemies. In danger of being killed or imprisoned. Caught between the hammer of Saul’s armies and the anvil of the Philistines. Having jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire as they say. What did David do? Did he succumb to his fears? Did he become paralyzed by anxiety? Did he let his circumstances overwhelm him? No. He turned to God. “When I am afraid, I trust in you. In God – I boast in his promise – in God I trust, I am not afraid. What can mere men do to me?” (Psalms 56:3-4 NET)
When I am afraid, I trust in you. What a statement! I think of a young woman I met this week. She recently relocated to the particular city I visited in a sensitive area of the world where Christians have to be careful because they are watched and monitored. It’s a Muslim dominated country where proselytization is illegal. You can be fined and imprisoned or deported for sharing your faith. She is on her own. Away from her family. She is so very young - in her early twenties- and the reason she came to this city is because she was being threatened in her previous location. The governing authorities had found out that she was evangelizing and they started to pursue her. The ministry she works for got word of their intentions and relocated her for her safety. Has that stopped her from sharing? Not at all. She helps lead the ministry among young college students. She is going to Korea in two months for seminary. She has dedicated her life to serving the Lord. This is what it means to trust God. This is what it looks like to take your fears and give them to God.
So many people today struggle with fear and anxiety. They fear the world. They fear the future. They fear responsiblity. They fear not measuring up. They fear not being accepted. They fear the stress and pressures of life. Our culture preys upon their fears. Monetizes their fears by selling them drugs that promise to numb their pain. The problem, of course, is you can’t selectively numb so their joy and excitement is numbed as well, leading to a dull and listless state. If it’s not prescription medication, it’s drugs like marijuana or alcohol. Addiction rates soar but the fear never actually goes away. They look for escape through online gaming or interactions with strangers or even AI chatbots. All in an effort to get rid of fear. But fear and anxiety are powerful. Persistent. And the only way to deal with them is by turning to something, or rather Someone, who is even more powerful. The Lord. When I am afraid, I trust in you. David acknowledges his fears honestly. He doesn’t pretend to be immune from anxiety. But what David does do and what the young woman I met does is trust in God. He knows and she knows God is all-powerful and God is good and God can be trusted to deliver those He loves.
Readings for tomorrow: 1 Samuel 25-27, Psalms 17, 73