Note before sharing the devotional: This current batch of devotionals really spoke to me when they were appearing in my daily feed. Usually I have commentary. Ever since I reached a point of recognizing my deep need for repentance and forgiveness, I’ve been focusing more on the words that I need to hear rather than the words I have to say. I anticipate that eventually I will be back to commenting, but not now. Until then, I pray that this devotional blesses you and that, if you’re already saved, this strengthens your faith; and if you haven’t yet received Jesus Christ as your King and Savior, that you will be encouraged and prompted to take that step. It’ll be the best thing you ever do in your life.
Whenever I am afraid,
I will trust in You.
Psalm 56:3, NKJV
How to Fight Fear
Think back to a time when you were genuinely scared. Do you remember how you felt?
As much as we’d prefer to never experience fear, fear is a part of the human experience. But when we are afraid, we have options…
We can panic, stress, get overwhelmed with worry, overthink every worst-case scenario, or attempt to numb the anxiety-inducing situations in unhealthy ways. Or, we can echo David’s words:
“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”
Psalm 56:3 ESV
These words were penned as David was pursued by his father-in-law, King Saul. Seeking refuge, he fled to Gath, a Philistine city in a foreign land. When the Philistines recognized him as Israel’s warrior, God helped him to escape. He was a fugitive, alone and afraid.
But David refused to settle for scared. He resisted the urge to let fear have the final say. He decided to fight back with Truth.
And so can we.
We never have to fight alone. God has given us something more powerful than ordinary weapons: He’s given us His Word, His Spirit, and His people. Even when we don’t have access to the perfect inspirational sermon or a timely word of encouragement, we can pause and remember the truth—that God fights for us, He is with us, and He’ll never leave us.
When we shift our minds from our overwhelming fear to God’s overwhelming faithfulness, everything changes. So, today, if you’re scared, anxious, terrified, overwhelmed, or uncertain, speak this out loud:
When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.
Be encouraged: Don’t settle for scared. You can fight fear by recalling God’s faithfulness!
Share your faith: When your heart is overwhelmed with fear, ask God to overwhelm you with His promises instead. Then, share what you’re learning with others.
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Share your faith: When your heart is overwhelmed with fear, ask God to overwhelm you with His promises instead. Then, share what you’re learning with others.
Prayer: Father God, in the name of Jesus, I thank You that You are a good God who cares for us no matter what we are feeling and experiencing. Through You we can stand up to fear. Because we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against the principalities and powers of this world, the armor of Yours that we put on as outlined in Ephesians 6 is also effective against fear. Because You go before us, we can rest in You knowing that You have every situation that might cause us to fear, You have it in the palm of Your hand. So I ask You to go before every person that reads this post, and protect them from every snare and trap of the enemy. I thank You God that You are all-powerful and that You care for us. In Jesus’s name I pray all these things, Amen.
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.