Both Faithful and Afraid
By Dean Collins
It’s not either/or; it is both/and when it comes to facing trials and learning to trust God and worship him in the midst of our suffering.
We tend to be much more comfortable with things being clearly one way or the other. We want things to be yes or no, right or wrong, and true or false. In terms of our faith, we want the blessings of the Lord without the agony of suffering. But one only need read the psalms or follow the steps of Jesus to see that even Jesus himself demonstrated his dependency on his father but still had to deal with direct attacks from the devil and from humans who were set against him.
Many times in the psalms, we see David both desperate for God’s protection and intervention in the attacks of his enemies while he simultaneously by faith declares his faith and confidence in God in his worship.
Psalm 27 opens with the declaration, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” However, in Psalm 31 we hear desperation amidst his confidence in God.
“I have been forgotten like one who is dead; I have become like a broken vessel. For I hear the whispering of many—terror on every side!—as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life.”
David was well aware throughout his life that two things can be true at the same time. God is fully good and fully in charge, and yet the enemies of God relentlessly surround and attack him as he seeks to do God’s will. You can see this in the middle of Psalm 31. Where David in one portion of his prayer says both things:
“My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors! Make your face shine on your servant; save me in your steadfast love! O Lord, let me not be put to shame, for I call upon you; let the wicked be put to shame; let them go silently to Sheol. Let the lying lips be mute, which speak insolently against the righteous in pride and contempt.”
Our times, like David’s, are in the Lord’s hands. We have no control over time. And we desperately need God’s help because during our time on earth, the enemy seeks to disrupt our lives, stir fear in our hearts, and sabotage the kingdom work we are involved in.
David offers sound instruction for us in how we manage this tension:
“Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies. Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence. I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!”
I will outline it, so we do not forget:
1) Ask the Lord to teach us his ways and to lead us on level paths.
2) Pray for the Lord to not allow the will of the enemy to prevail.
3) Look upon the goodness of the Lord.
4) Wait for the Lord, and let your heart take courage in the Lord.
Until we cross the thin line between heaven and earth, we will have trouble. But as Jesus clearly told us, he has overcome the world. We are in good hands!
Father, we acknowledge our fears that stir in our minds and hearts. And we know that you are with us no matter what is happening around us. Teach us your ways Lord! Do not allow the enemy to have victories in our lives. We declare you as our good and faithful Father. And today we will wait on you, take courage in you, and follow you where you lead us. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Your Time with God’s Word
Psalm 27:1-14, 31:7-8, 12-24 ESV
Photo by Pexels
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