“When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. I praise God for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?”
Psalm 56:3-4 NLT
As a child, I didn’t cry in the dark or run away from spiders. As a missionary in Uganda, I didn’t panic when we faced army roadblocks or tremble when we heard machine guns. Our Heavenly Father had promised to protect us, and He kept His word. I’m still in awe of His miraculous shield, not only around our bodies but especially around our hearts.
However, years later I faced fears that seemed louder than any machine gun! I hadn’t been afraid of noisy guns around me, but I’d become afraid of noisy lies inside me! What if I fail to please everybody? What if I disappoint someone? What if others think I’m lazy or weak?
My loving Father opened my eyes to see—fear of what people think was wearing me out! But that’s when I “just happened” to read these verses! The same Father I had trusted in Uganda was the same Shepherd who led me step by step through the Truth in His Word. I learned that God’s promises not only speak peace to the heart when soldiers’ machine guns are raging; they speak truth to the mind when Satan’s lies are screaming!
So, whether danger lurks around me or inside me…
When I'm afraid, I will trust the Peace of my Father’s arms
and the Truth of my Father’s Word!
