“Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God (I will praise His word), in God I have put my trust. I will not fear” (Psalm 56:3-4).
Dear Praying Friends:
This time, David is really in trouble! Fleeing the murderous wrath of King Saul, he has taken refuge in Gath, the hometown of Goliath, the giant whom he had famously slain with a stone from his sling. There he finds an initial welcome but must soon run away when the memory of his victory arouses the ire of the Gittites. From now on, he will be on the run, constantly in mortal danger.
No wonder he’s afraid!
What about you?
Your situation may not be as dire as David’s – unless you or a loved one is fighting late-stage cancer, early or advanced dementia, financial straits, or some other comparable crisis. Still, if you are normal, you battle fears almost daily.
What to do?
Imitate David, the mighty warrior: Trust in God, as he is revealed in his Word, the Bible. He is for you (verse 9; and Romans 8:31). He numbers our wanderings (think of David); stores up our tears and records them (verse 8); and eventually defeats our enemies (verse 9). After all, he has delivered our soul from eternal death so that we might walk in the land of the living forever (verse 13; Colossians 1:13; and 2 Timothy1:9-10).
Thank you for praying last week. Though I still feel quite wiped out by the most recent virus, I was able to finish writing notes on 1 John and wrote more on the book review of The Missionary Kaleidoscope. But that was about all. I am seeing my primary care physician tomorrow.
Clarifications: When I commend or even recommend a book or resource, that doesn’t mean that I fully agree with everything it says. I think that a couple of important concepts in the Hope Redefined ministry for betrayed women are problematic, and some of the material in the Emotionally Healthy Spirituality course is quite questionable.
But that doesn’t mean that I don’t also find them extremely helpful. I receive them with what has been called “critical appreciation.” As the Chinese proverb goes, I try to “eat the fish and throw out the bones.” As I have said, I hope to write appreciative critiques of these when I have the time.
In all times of crisis, remember “[Ii]n God I have put my trust” (Psalm 56:4).
Yours in his faithfulness,
Wright