Living with confidence in a fearful world.

Living with confidence in a fearful world.
Psalm 56-60
Psalm 56:3, “When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You.”

We live in a culture of fear. Politicians often use fear to motivate people to vote for them. Companies use fear to try and sell us a product. Organizations use fear to try and motivate people to give to their cause. It is easy to become gripped by fear. However, in reality, much of what we fear is not an actual threat but merely a perceived threat. For example, people are afraid of flying even though the odds of dying as a result of a commercial airline accident are 1 in 13 million, while the odds of dying in a car accident are 1 in 95. Yet we jump into our cars without fear, but we feel apprehension when our plane hits turbulence.  

However, what happens when the threat is real and the fear is justified? Psalms 56, 57, 59, and  60 were all written by David when he was experiencing real and dangerous threats to his life by those who were bent on his destruction and death. The enemies that were out to kill David were many. In Psalm 56, the enemy was the Philistines. In Psalm 57 and 59, it was Saul who was driven to find and kill David because he saw David as a threat to his power. In Psalms 60, it was the enemies of Edom. David knew what it was like to face real threats to his life and the fear that it brings. It is one thing to be fearful when we face an imaginary threat, but it is quite another to deal with a real and present danger. It is one thing to fear death because we know that someday we will die; it is a different story when we are faced with terminal cancer. Where do we turn when the threats are real, present, and intense?

In these Psalms, David provides us with the answer. The answer to our fears is not a change in circumstances but a change in focus. We cannot change the circumstances and external threats that confront us, but we can change our focus. For David, the answer to his fear was not the defeat of the Philistines or the repentance of Saul for seeking his life. The answer was in the focus of his trust. When his gaze turned to God, he realized that he had nothing to fear (56:3-4). We can either become focused on the threats that confront us, or we can focus on the God who is in control of our lives. It was this perspective change that gave David confidence. When he became fearful, he learned to redirect in trust in God, for God is the one who is in control of his life. God determines our security, and He insulates us from the threats of life, for He is in control of our lives and the affairs of the world. The sovereignty of God is more than just a theological affirmation; it is the hope and security of all of us. He is in control of the universe, the nations, and our personal lives so that no one and no circumstance can harm us apart from His sovereign will.   God knows our every circumstance. He cares for our every fear. In Psalm 56:8, David provides an inspiring picture of God’s providential care. Not only does He know every circumstance we face, but He also takes exceptional care of every fear we have. God records every tear we shed and every fear we experience so that He might act appropriately. Even the smallest event is recorded by God, and He gives his attention to it. When the sovereign God of the universe is personally overseeing our lives and protecting us, then there is nothing more we need to fear. When we find ourselves becoming overwhelmed by fear and apprehension, the issue is not the foe we face; it is the focus of our faith. Instead of looking at the circumstances, we are to look to the one who governs the universe and governs our lives and the events that happen. Instead of becoming fearful in a world of uncertainty, cast your focus upon God, who determines the outcome of every circumstance with absolute certainty.