Read: Psalm 56
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. (vv. 3-4)
When I first started traveling for work, I had to fly. At first, I was afraid of flying, but the more I flew, the less I was afraid. Trust God—it’s easy to say, but it’s not so easy to live. Things are most difficult when we focus on our fears and lose sight of God. In Scripture, there’s an invitation to trust, to be present, and to be aware of God’s presence (Rom. 8:28).
Like us, David experienced fear, anxiety, sorrow, and pain. He wrote Psalm 56 while fearing for his life, and in it, he shares the key to overcoming danger and difficulty: “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you” (v. 3). Simply put, fear gives way to faith when we trust God. Our perspective changes as we stop focusing on how big our problems are and start looking at how big our God is. David was alone, desperate, and afraid until he intentionally redirected his focus toward God. Like David, we’ll find our faith grows as we remember that God is for us, praise his goodness, and recall his promises (vv. 3-4, 9-11).
If we put our trust in God, in all times, good and bad, we’ll begin to see how there’s bravery and relief in trusting God, even when we’re afraid. In turn, by trusting God, we gain confidence in his ability to intervene and create hope and positive changes in our lives.
As you pray, ask how you can place complete trust in God.
About the Author
Ariana D. Den Bleyker is a Pittsburgh native currently residing in New York’s Hudson Valley. She is the author of two devotional poetry collections,To Be Held by the LightandWaking in the Light. She is an ordained deacon in the Reformed Church of America.
