Peace in a Fearful World

Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy (Psalm 64:1, KJV).

We have just weathered two major storms, and fear has permeated the air. Broadcast on every station, brokered in all the stores, shared among neighbors and across social media, and carried across state lines anxiety has reached out to grip hearts across the southeast. Helene and Milton are names that will not soon be forgotten in Florida, Georgia, or the Carolinas.

These events are recent, and we are still dealing with the aftermath and devastation, but it doesn’t take a hurricane to bring fear to our hearts. Any occurrence that causes even a perceived threat to our security, our family, our health, or our comfort can flip the switch in the soul that alerts the fear response. Fear is real and universal.

This is why I find the wording in David’s prayer so interesting. He did not pray that God would preserve his life from the enemy. He prayed that God would preserve his life from FEAR of the enemy (emphasis mine) Psalm 64:1. David understood that fear was more of a problem than the enemy itself.

Throughout scripture, God tells us to “fear not”. Instead, He calls us to place our trust in him. This trust is intentional for He has not called us to a life of anxiety but to a life of peace (Philippians 4:6-7).

When our hearts respond in fear to the situations of this world, we find ourselves caught in a whirlwind of frantic thoughts that leave us overcome with the cares of this life. The ‘what if’ thinking of the news media drowns out the still small voice of our Savior who seeks to remind us that he is still in control.

So, David’s prayer is a wise one. Preserve me from FEAR of the enemy,

regardless of who or what the enemy is.

 Father, help me, remind me to trust you no matter what is going on.