Facing fear? Trust God
This fresh set of Daily Devotions is being provided for our LCA/NZ family, friends and visitors to help us to keep our eyes on Jesus as we face unsettling times. They can be used by families and individuals as part of the LCA/NZ’s Church@Home resources to encourage us and build trust in our Heavenly Father during this season of uncertainty and physical isolation.
by Pastor Kevin Bell
This is the second of four devotions on the theme of Trust, published approximately once a week.
Click here for your printable verse to carry with you today.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me (Psalm 23:4).
In Psalm 23, David talks about trusting God when he opens up to God and talks about the valleys of life, or in other words the darkest and fearful times in life.
Trusting God does not mean we do not experience fear or pain. Trusting God does not mean we won’t go through troubles or crises. The reality of life means you can’t go around the valleys, or under the valleys, or over the valleys. You can only go through the valleys. That is when David encourages us to declare, ‘I will fear no evil’. It implies a reliance and trust in God’s strength, power, wisdom and goodness and to ask him to bring peace and comfort to our hearts. Often that will mean we have to say, ‘God, I don’t understand, but I have decided to cast off this fear onto you. I cannot do this of myself. I will trust you through Your Holy Spirit, who enables me. I will not take this fear back on myself, but I will leave it with you Lord.’
To trust God is to recognise that he is in control; it is to claim his promises, like those given to Isaiah:
When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up – the flames will not consume you (Isaiah 43:2).
God says, ‘I am with you every step in the valley. I will lead you through this. Will you trust me?’
Father, when I walk through the valleys of life, I will not fear, for you are with me. Amen.
- Click here to read previous devotions.
- We are also posting them on LCA Facebook, making it easy for you to share them with family and friends.
- Sign up to receive Daily Devotion in your inbox every morning. If you’re already doing that, please encourage others to sign up. Click here for the link.
