Whenever I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. — Psalm 56:3.
I read today that the word “fear” can be an acronym for “false evidence appearing real.” Next thing you know I was playing with acronyms. How about “fake emotions appear reasonable.” One can waste a lot of time with acronyms, we each have enough experience with the word fear and the reality that true fear brings.
Our psalmist gives us a simple answer — when we are afraid, trust in God. I confess that the few times I feared for my life a prayer flowed quickly from my lips. I don’t know if God intervened or it just wasn’t my time, but bottom line I’m still here.
Our fears are usually not as bad a we imagine. When I counsel a person who is about to go to prison, my first goal is to assure the man or woman that most of his/her fears are unfounded. I am never 100% successful in this endeavor, but I usually can move the needle a little. Many a time a future inmate will say, “Oh yes, that is easy for you to say.” They are right.
What is important is not to let our fears affect who we are and how we react to circumstance, and always, always, trust in God.
Leave a Reply +