“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God – I praise His word – in God I trust. I have no fear. What can human power do to me?”
Psalm 56:3,4 (The Complete Jewish Bible)
We looked both ways to see if any cars were coming over the hill or around the bend before we walked across the two-lane Dixie Highway. We proceeded to walk up the dirt road across the railroad bridge. (The bridge my brother and I used to throw rocks from and try to hit the rails below and watch the rocks bounce off. We learned later that wasn’t a good idea.)
My friend Sue and I decided to walk to Judy’s house, between 1 and 1 ½ miles—great ambition for these two young teens on a summer day. We rounded the corner of the road. Whew! No German Shepherd came from the Epperson farm. We continued our walk as we approached the Delaney house, which was not so good. Two, not one, but two German Shepherd dogs came racing from the house across the yard toward the dirt road we were walking on. We froze. I uttered, in fear, this prayer, “Lord, please don’t let those dogs come out of the yard.”
As the dogs approached the edge of the yard, they stopped. I don’t know whether it was my prayer or if the dogs had been trained to stop at the edge of the yard. Either way, my prayer was answered, and we were grateful.
I wish I could say that was the beginning of a lifetime of ‘faith over fear.’ But it wasn’t.
I have experienced God’s protection many times in many ways. I could tell you many stories, especially in my many international mission trips, of God raising me from fear to faith in Him. Yet, daily, I find myself reverting to fear-based pleas. “Don’t let anything bad happen today.” “Don’t let anyone get sick as we go on vacation.’ We all have them, right?
I try to replace my fear-based prayers to faith-based prayers.
Instead of praying, “Please don’t let__________, I constantly remind myself to change my verbiage to “I choose to trust You today with____________.”
It is believed that the words recorded in Psalm 56 were penned by David when the Philistines had seized him in Gath. David did not pray, “Please don’t let____,.” He admitted he was afraid. It’s okay to be afraid. It’s a natural emotion. But what can we do when we are afraid? David said, “I put my trust in God.” “I praise His word.” He compares human power with God’s power. For me, that summer day, I had to exchange my fear of “dog power” for God’s power.
Since that warm summer day of my youth, many events and circumstances have presented me with the choice to live in fear or move forward in trust.
Thankfully, I have chosen to trust, and each time I do, the battle against fear is won.
~Donna Gudgel
REFLECTION:
Read the entire chapter of Psalm 56. Write down specific fears David had. Then, write down what he did to replace fear with faith.
What do you fear? Write down your specific fears and what you will do to replace your fears with faith.
PRAYER:
“Adonai, we celebrate You as LORD in all circumstances. In joy, in victory, in sorrow, in fear. We rejoice that You are always near to us. Near to our hearts, our bodies, our minds. Remind us to stop and be calm as You triumph over fear. Amen”
MEET THE WRITER: *DONNA GUDGEL
Hi! I am Donna. Better known as Valerie’s mom. I am married to her dad for 52 years and Nana to four “lights to the nations” grandchildren. I enjoy being outdoors – walking and enjoying all of God’s creation whether it be trails through the forest or splashing water along the beach. Another love is playing worship songs at my piano. I get excited and the adrenaline flows when I teach God’s Word whether it’s speaking in a church in India or facilitating learning in a small group setting. God is good and faithful. He is my daily strength. He has brought me through times of sorrow. God is Healer. He has healed me of cancer and a brain aneurysm. I know He still has me here on earth for His purposes. Therefore, I rejoice daily in life and the opportunities He gives me to make Jesus known.
*My sweet Mom passed away on December 5, 2023 from mestatic breast cancer. She was my best friend and biggest cheerleader. I’m so thankful that she is now experiencing the fullness of her trust in the Lord in Heaven.
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