Whenever I am Afraid

David was afraid.  He prayed to God when he was afraid. Whenever he found himself in circumstances outside of his control–he confessed his trust and confidence in God and in His word.  Many of the Psalms were written in times of greatness. Times of victory, laughter and joy.   There are also many written in times of adversity.

David wrote this particular declaration in the book of Psalms–when the Philistines had seized him in Gath.  In the book of 1 Samuel Chapter 20, David was captured.  They made fun of him. So David had to pretend he was crazy in order to be released.  Only to find himself once again fleeing to the cave of Adullum.

Then David arose and fled that day from before Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath. And the servants of Achish said to him, “Is this not David the king of the land? Did they not sing of him to one another in dances, saying: ‘Saul has slain his thousands,
And David his ten thousands’?” Now David took these words to heart, and was very much afraid of Achish the king of Gath. So he changed his behavior before them, pretended madness in their hands, scratched on the doors of the gate, and let his saliva fall down on his beard.
1 Samuel 20:10-13

David found himself immediately in the face of mockery, embarrassment, shame and disgrace after just coming out of a huge victory! The king of Gath ridiculed him… I can only hear his teasing tone in my head as I read “Isn’t this not David the king of the land that just slayed ten thousands…” Here he was captured in the hands of another king.

How mortifying this must have been for David in this moment.
This king attacked his identity, his victory and his destiny all at once.

“David the king of the land…”

“Once singing and dancing…”

“Has slain thousands and ten thousands…”

So that all his accomplishments and achievements can feel like a waste.  To make David feel like a fool and a failure! Isn’t that just how the enemy always works? All of that mockery, ridicule and shame are the gateways to fear.  David became very afraid.  Fearful of this man.  Fearful of those words.  Fearful of his future.  He panicked. He pretended to be something he was not only to escape.

Couldn’t he trust God then to protect him?

But just like you and I–as humans–we do become afraid sometimes when we are presented with vicious people that try to intimidate us! People or even circumstances that try to trip us up. Only because we DO have a powerful identity given by Christ! We HAVE amazing victories, celebrations and accomplishments. We ARE going to be and continue to walk in high callings that God has assigned to us.  So that everything we do–we have success! Because that is just the God we serve. He is the One we report to.

So I don’t know what you are facing today–I share with you now:

DO NOT BE AFRAID! You will win because you are already more than a conqueror.  That is why the enemy is fighting you so hard in such a fierce pursuit.

God has got you for sure! Remember who you are!

Today I invite you to meditate on His Word and never the mocking words of man.
For what can they do, when it is God who is always in control to lead you to an overwhelming victory!

Psalm 56
Be merciful to me, my God, for my enemies are in hot pursuit;
all day long they press their attack.  
My adversaries pursue me all day long;
in their pride many are attacking me.

When I am afraid, I put my trust in YOU!

In God, whose word I praise
in God I trust and am not afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?

All day long they twist my words; all their schemes for my ruin.
They conspire, they lurk, they watch my steps, hoping to take my life.
Because of their wickedness do not let them escape;
in your anger, God, bring the nations down.

Record my misery; list my tears on Your scroll
–are they not in Your record?
Then my enemies will turn back when I call for help.
By this I will know that God is for me.

In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise
–in God I trust and am not afraid.
What can man do to me?

I am under vows to You, my God;
I will present my thank offerings to You. 
For You have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before God in the light of life.

For my sister Claudia Morales and the many that face adversity. ❤

Amen