Psalm 56:3 (NIV) - When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
Can we fear and trust at the same time? I always wondered how the two match-up. Does this have anything to do with control or lack there of? Imagine sky diving. I do not know many people who would want to try this. I ask a friend if she would skydive and she said no, I love my life too much. I thought is the “fear thing” connected with lack of control? You have no idea what will happen but your mind says “be afraid” if you lack control.
I thought if we trust the Lord, why do we fear? Is fear a natural reaction and trust not an automatic reaction? Is it just a fact that as human beings we want to be in control of everything? I read an article by Rachel Cohen and she described fear as “Fear is what happens when our desire to be in control is confronted with our complete inability to control anything.” When fear shows up, you realize that you are powerless. Your first instinct on the sight of fear may be to go into panic mode, try to fix the situation or run from the thing that causes you fear.
If we know and trust God, we know he is our almighty Father. 2 Timothy 1:7 says for God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. So why do we still fear and not trust God? Why don’t we run to God when we mess up, find that fear has taken over our being, instead of running away from God. He loves us. Today’s verse is a reminder that when I am afraid, I put my trust in God. Maybe the answer to overcoming fear is to put your trust in God? He is the fixer of all things not you.
Dear God,
Thank you for the reminder that when I am afraid, I must put my trust in you. That you know best. I pray that all your children run to you when they are afraid. That they wholeheartedly put their trust in you. I ask this in your son Jesus’ name. Amen!