Author: thischicksinpeace

We’re going to be walking on water today!!

Matthew 14:22-33

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowd. After He had dismissed them, He went up on a mountainside by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

During the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw Him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

“Lord, if it’s You,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to You on the water.”

“Come,” He said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and caught Him, “You of little faith,” He said, “why did you doubt?”

And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshipped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”

Jumping right into the context of this passage, Jesus had just finished teaching and feeding over 5,000 people: remember the story? Jesus fed the 5,000 with five loaves of bread and two fish!

A mighty miracle, with leftovers, had just happened and the disciples were sent on their way across the lake ahead of Christ while He cleaned up after the crowd and had some much-needed one-on-one time with God.

“The fourth watch” of the night means it was the end of the night between 3am and 6am. As a “retired” night shift worker, it was the darkest and coldest part of the night…it was the time of night where a person was most tired when they were working and the time when the night seemed the quietest.

Putting all that together, it was very late in the night after a very long, productive day.

Let’s read the passage again, but this time think of yourself in the role of Peter!

As Peter~

Did you see all those leftovers we had guys?? Man, I thought we were going to have go buy food for all those people – Jesus sure brings in a crowd, doesn’t He??? Thank goodness that kid had that fish and bread! But, DANG fella’s, did you SEE all those baskets just keep getting filled again and again and again? How on earth does Jesus DO that??

Incredible!

And we have breakfast for tomorrow all taken care of now too! Anyone else hungry??

What do you think Jesus is doing? It sure is getting late! Or should I say, “early”! Ha! Do you get that one, John?? It’s “late” but it’s also “early”…I crack myself up!

Man, it sure is getting windy and wavy out here boys…this is a little boat and we are rocking around in it pretty good out here in the water! Shoot, it’s so dark out if we sink no one would even SEE us go down! It’s so windy, I doubt anyone could HEAR us either!!

Holy cow guys….look over there!

What’s that??

Do you SEE that????

Is it something blowing in the wind over there?? Like a sail or something?

Wait…no…that is a SHAPE of something…like a body.

What the heck??

How can a BODY be out here on the water in the middle of the lake?!!

Holy cow, guys! Is that a ghost???

Oh geez….it’s a ghost -I just know it!

Where IS Jesus?????

Wait!

Jesus!

What did it…I mean HE say?? Did He just tell us to NOT BE AFRAID? Did He say, “It is I?”

Could it be…???

Do you think…???

It…I mean HE…is getting closer!

Hey John~ I’m gonna call out to it…I mean Him…Ok? What do you think? Think I should?

I’m gonna… I’m gonna do it guys. It’s Him, I KNOW it’s Him!

(Clears throat)

Lord, if it’s YOU then tell me to come to you on the water!

-I know what I’m doing John, hang on, it’s cool…It’s gonna be fine…-

Did He just tell me to COME?!

(Deep breath in)

I’m COMING.

(leaps over the side of the boat and lands ON the water)

Holy cow, guys, I’m doing it! Hey, Jesus! Look at me! I’m coming to You!! I’m coming!

(Feels the waves crashing over feet and looks down)

Holy cow, I’m walking on water. I’m ON the water. How am I on the water? Holy cow, I’m sinking!! I’m sinking!

Jesus! I’m sinking!!

LORD SAAAAAAAVE MEEEEEEE!!

I’m going to drown! This is it! I’m done for! Wait- is that a hand?? Grab it Peter!! Dang it, you got to reach for it man!

I got it! I got His hand! He has me!!

Look at His face looking at me. I am so embarrassed, but He doesn’t look mad or scared at all. He is as calm as He ever is…He was never worried something was going to happen to me, was He?

Is He smiling at me??

I think I just heard Him ask me “why did you doubt?”

As we climb back into the boat together, my brothers begin singing songs of praise as the water around us calms again. They cannot believe what they just saw!! Jesus was walking on the water and so did I! That’s awesome stuff!!!

Why did I doubt what was happening when it was happening?

Why did I take my eyes off of Him to see what was swirling around me?

Why did I get so scared when Jesus was right in front of me standing on the water Himself??

Why did it matter that what I was doing seemed impossible or improbable when I was staring into the face of the One who does MIRACLES?

End scene.

When my eyes are on Christ, I am safe and able to do anything.

When my eyes are on Christ, I do not notice the things that threaten to harm me, crash over me, overwhelm me, or make me afraid.

When my eyes are on Christ, I am ABOVE the things that make me fearful.

When my eyes turn back to Christ, He hears my cry and saves me.

My friends, where are your eyes looking when you’re scared?

Lord,

Help me to see YOU in the dark.

Help me to have the faith to stand up when something is scaring me.

Help me to cry out to You and to grab on tightly to Your hand that is reached out to save me.

Help me to keep my eyes on You.

Amen.

Today we are looking at a very familiar passage found in Matthew 10 and DO NOT BE AFRAID is mentioned three times here in three different contexts!

Matthew 10:26-31

So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim it from the roofs.

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of the Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

1. Do not afraid of THEM

The context of this particular part of the passage ties in directly to what Jesus had been sharing with His disciples in the verses prior. The chapter itself begins with Jesus sending His disciples out on a training expedition of sorts~ He sends them on a mission to “practice” the work of ministry that they will need to carry on after Jesus returns to the Father. He gives them instructions on what to say, who to say the message to, what to pack, and whether to accept a wage or not.

In the instructions, Jesus warns them that their message of salvation in the Messiah, who has now come in Christ, MAY NOT be received by those listening. He offers encouragement to them on how to handle that situation.

His description of the scenario of rejection presented to the disciples presents quite the word picture: I am sending you out like sheep among the wolves (Matt 10:16).

Geesh. Sign me up for that task.

Wolves EAT sheep. Wolves STALK sheep. Wolves HUNT sheep. Wolves ATTACK sheep.

Good times. Sounds like a fun job.

The next section we must look at to better understand our passage is Jesus expanding on this “wolf” thing…He now enlarges His metaphor into the prediction that they will be persecuted by those who will reject them.

Let me get this straight, Jesus is sending His disciples out on a mission and tells them that their message is going to be FIERCLY rejected. But it will not end there? It is one thing to disagree with what a person says….it is a whole other issue to “shoot the messenger”.

Hate the message…KILL the messenger??

Jesus is very clear with His disciples that “all men will hate you because of me, BUT he who stands firm to the end will be saved” (Matthew 10:22).

THAT is what precedes our part of this chapter and Jesus telling His disciples to NOT BE AFRAID OF THEM.

To NOT BE AFRAID of the wolves.

Let’s go read verses 26-27 again.

Why shouldn’t they (the disciples) or why shouldn’t WE be afraid of those who persecute us…disagree with us…do not understand what we stand for…reject what we believe in???

I think I have to go on my own thoughts about this one… I think we do not have to be afraid because we are being told in advance that it is going to happen. We do not have to be scared of something when we know it will be right there in front of us. Jesus is not hiding anything from us. He does not sugar coat His message nor the reception of what He came to offer.

He tells us, plainly, that because persecution and rejection happened to Him it will happen to us: so we are to follow His example and not act surprised by it all– shaking and quivering silently in a corner as if we had been ambushed by those who reject our faith!!

Instead, Jesus tells us to go shout the Good News from the rooftops because the message of salvation IS NOT a secret or something to be ashamed of! Even if it has been whispered in the dark, the message will be revealed in the light!!

We are to BE ENCOURAGED and not be afraid!!

2. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body…

Not many of us have people trying to actually KILL us, so we need to reflect on this part a little harder.

In the context of persecution, the disciples WERE going to be hunted down like sheep and killed by the wolves for their continual declaration of salvation through Jesus Christ.

Ever since Jesus died and rose from the grave, there have been Christians martyred for their faith. It still happens today…and if you do not think that is true, then I suggest you do some research on the subject.

Here, in the U.S., we have been fortunate to be able live our lives as Christians freely~ Freedom of Religion and Freedom of Speech has been our safety net.

Recently, there seems to be more animosity towards Christianity than there had been in the past. In my personal opinion, through the hypocrisy of “fallen” so-called Christian leaders in the media, non-believers look rather disdainfully at the idea of the “religion” of Christianity. Due to hate-filled speech and actions on behalf of those who claim to be Christians, non-believers have no desire to come to our churches. Why should they want to? So they can be judged by those sitting next to them in worship??

That being said….the HEART of the message of Christ is not being heard as the messengers are being rejected more often. Therefore, persecution towards those truly following Christ is happening.

As shared before, we need to quit being surprised by that and staying quietly afraid in the corner.

However, we need to ask God to cleanse OUR own hearts, to take the plank from OUR own eyes, and to help us through the power of the Holy Spirit to PREACH THE TRUE MESSAGE OF CHRIST out of a genuine love for those who are lost that Jesus died to save.

I shall step off my platform now.

Another view of “those trying to kill you” and not to be afraid of them, is in regards to the OTHER THINGS that threaten us.

Are you afraid of being injured in an accident?

Are you afraid of dying because of an illness that has no cure?

COVID?

CANCER?

SUICIDAL DEPRESSION?

Are you afraid of being attacked and harmed physically/violently?

Jesus tells us to not be afraid of what CANNOT DESTROY YOUR SOUL.

Why? How would that help??

As believers, we are to live eternally with Christ…if our soul is safe with Him, then keep your eyes on HIM when something comes your way that can harm, destroy, or kill your body.

The harsh truth is that we are mortal beings. We are all going to die someday…it is an inevitable fact. We can count on that one truth for certain.

HOW or WHEN remains the mystery...if we are so fixated on what it is we fear will harm or kill us, then we miss everything else that is happening all around us.

And, I must ask, HOW DO YOU KNOW that the illness that plagues you or the fear of someone else harming you is going to be what kills you?

You don’t.

Many people survive something they never thought they could and die another day from something else.

I realize this is fairly morbid talk, but it needs to be shared.

Jesus tells us to NOT BE AFRAID OF THEM.

WHY?

3. Do not be afraid because you are worth more…

Read Matthew 10:29-31 again.

Jesus reminds us of how God cares for His creation, how well He knows what He created…and that we need to rest in confidence that God cares even more for us than He does everything else He created.

How can I be sure of that?

Because I was created in His image (Genesis 1:27).

YOU were created in His image.

When was the last time you REALLY looked at creation when you were afraid? Have you noticed the ORDER of things instead of CHAOS?

* gravity

*weather patterns

*sunrise and sunset

*gardens growing from little seeds

*season changes

*new births

*breathing in the “good” air and exhaling the “bad” air

*the complex yet orderly way our kidney’s function

Can you think of other things that can catch your notice when you are afraid? Something that will remind you that YOU ARE LOVED, YOU ARE NOT ALONE, YOU ARE CARED FOR?

There is quite a bit happening in these three “DO NOT BE AFRAID’s”…

Do not be afraid of them who persecute you or disagree with you

Do not be afraid of those that could harm your body

Do not be afraid because you matter MORE

YOU MATTER.

YOU ARE LOVED.

YOU ARE SAFE.

YOU ARE SEEN.

YOU ARE KNOWN.

The Storms

Matthew 8: 23-27

Jesus got back into the boat and His disciples followed Him. Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke Him, saying, “Lord save us! We’re going to drown!!”

He replied, “you of little faith, why are you so afraid?”

Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey Him!”

As before, we must look at this passage in the context of which it was written and THEN we can bust it apart line by line if we want to!

This passage follows the disciples witnessing many miracles done by Jesus. They watched Him heal people. They have listened to Him preach countless sermons including a slightly famous one titled The Sermon on the Mount.

The disciples have left their homes, their jobs, their families to follow Jesus because they KNEW He was special.

They KNEW He was no ordinary teacher.

They KNEW He was no ordinary rabbi.

Matthew 7:29 writes that He taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

They climbed onto a small boat that the 13 of them could fit snugly, yet safely, into so they could cross the Sea of Galilee. These guys were fisherman and accustomed to the tumultuous weather patterns that plagued this little body of water. They were also equipped to manage this boat they were in because they were familiar with this style of sailing.

The Sea of Galilee is 13 miles long and 7 miles wide, but it is 150 feet deep at its deepest with the shoreline being 680 feet below sea level. Storms could spring up rapidly over the surrounding mountains and stir the water to having waves up to 20 feet high!

When they began their journey, Jesus had finished teaching a large crowd, the water was calm, so off they went. The water was so calm and the day so satisfactory, Jesus FELL ASLEEP in the boat.

He was relaxed as could be….just sailing with his buddies after a good days work.

Let’s read the passage again:

Jesus got back into the boat and His disciples followed Him. Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke Him, saying, “Lord save us! We’re going to drown!!”

He replied, “you of little faith, why are you so afraid?”

Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey Him!”

What stands out to you?

1. “Without warning, a sudden storm came up…”

How many times in life has THAT happened? Life is just cruising along when SUDDENLY – WHAM!! A storm!

A few years ago, life was pretty stressful, and we thought we had all we could handle on our plate…and believed we were handling it: all things considered.

Then BAM!

My Crohn’s disease reared up with an abscess that required me to be hospitalized so it could be drained through a surgical procedure. I was so sick by the time I got to the hospital, I was now incredibly immunocompromised. That means the antibiotics used to treat my massive infection caused me to become sicker with another bacteria.

I have had Crohn’s for almost thirty years and NEVER expected my disease to take such a horrible turn to the left!! The recovery for all this is still ongoing even after two years…My disease is not the same as it had been; I am not the same that I had been because of it.

This was a true sudden storm.

Perhaps you have an experience too…an illness of your own that came out of nowhere? The death of a loved one that seemed unexpected? Or is it the intensity of grief after the death that is what is so unexpected??? Is it a job loss or change??

It most certainly can be COVID-19 for all of us…who saw THIS coming as a pandemic???!!

2. “Waves swept over the boat…”

Here is the thing…there can be storms and then there are the WAVES THAT KEEP CRASHING OVER YOU.

Those are the things that just keep coming.

That experience of two years ago? Well, we had waves crashing over us too…a depressed teenager living with us, the loss of relationships, AND one my best friends found out she had Stage 4 Colon Cancer that metastasized into her ovaries all WHILE I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL.

Prior to that?

My husband lost his job.

His dad died.

We were adjusting to a new job that included frequent travel for him so my husband was gone…a lot.

We were getting by…we had been keeping our heads above water for a few years…but my illness in conjunction with the other issues listed made me feel like I was drowning as the waves would not stop coming!

3. “The disciples woke Jesus and said “SAVE US, WE’RE GOING TO DROWN!“

You know what I notice here??

They were scared so they WENT to Jesus and told Him the truth! They cried out in their fear to the One they believed could help them.

Have you done that?

Do you need to do it again?

Going to Jesus, being honest with Him about how we feel and what we are afraid of, WAKES HIM UP TO HELP (so to speak).

We NEED to talk to our Lord and Savior and tell Him what is on our hearts…in the deepest most secret place inside us.

It may seem harsh to say, but why should He do all the work in the relationship with you? He does what you ask…He talks to you…and you don’t talk to Him?

4. “Why are you so afraid?”

This seems to be an unusual and perhaps not the most loving response our just wakened Savior has for His friends, right?

He was asleep because He KNEW they were and would be fine because He was with them.

They KNEW He was from God and did miracles with the authority of God. They saw people HEALED from their afflictions…and THEY WERE STILL SCARED?

He called them out for what they already KNEW about Him…why are you afraid, friends?? I am with you. You are already following Me, so follow My example and get some rest like I am.

Has God brought to YOUR mind the same question?

Why are you afraid beloved??

I am right here.

Have faith in ME.

5. “Then He calmed the waves and rebuked the storm and then it was completely calm.”

Wow.

Once they confessed their fear to their Lord, they were reminded of where and who their faith was founded on, and the storm was made calm.

I can honestly say my storm did not calm immediately.

Most of ours don’t.

BUT…because I continually cried out to God in my anguish, my confusion, my literal pain, my fear, and my hurt…PEACE CAME TO ME IN THE STORM.

Like I said, I am still recovering from my illness exacerbation of two years ago.

My friend has passed away after fighting her Stage 4 Cancer.

We are STILL in a pandemic of sorts.

Yet, there IS peace.

It is quiet. It is calm. It is not obvious. It can be hidden underneath the noise of doubts or busyness. However, it is there when I choose to look for it.

Jesus is with me in my boat.

Jesus is with you as well.

Do not forget that He is the One who can calm the raging sea.

Do not forget to call out to Him.

He is waiting and able and mighty to save you from drowning.

I must confess…this is challenging to write every day~ needless to say, I have not been able to do it every day. Maybe, though, in my pause for my job/life/etc…it gives you time to reflect on those things you are afraid of and how God can carry you through as He shows in these verses?

Isaiah 12

In that day you will say:

“I will praise You, O Lord. Although You were angry with me, Your anger has turned away and you have comforted me.

Surely God is my salvation;

I will trust and not be afraid.

The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song;

He has become my salvation.

With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.”

In that day you will say:

“Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name; make known among the nations what He has done, and proclaim that His name is exalted.

Sing to the Lord, for He has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world.

Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.”

NIV

The context of this passage is that it was written by the prophet Isaiah. He is known as one of the greatest prophets chosen to speak for God. What he shared was rejected because what he shared in regards to repentance and the lack of was unpopular.

Imagine that…people didn’t want to hear that they needed to change their ways and return to a right relationship with God.

He was called to warn people of God’s judgement and punishment. The resounding cry from his lips was return, repent, and be renewed, then trust in God’s redemption and rejoice.

This particular chapter follows the prophecy of the coming Messiah through the line of Jesse (King David’s father -Jesus’ lineage is traced back to David). Prior to that good news, Isaiah spoke of the Assyrians coming to take the Israelites into captivity.

First, he speaks of horrible, bad news of captivity. In those days, that would mean they were removed from their homes, possibly separated from their families, and placed into whatever place the captives thought those captive would be most useful.

After this devastation, Isaiah declares a promise of the One who was coming to set them free – the Messiah.

Chapter 12 is the promise in the song of praise the people will sing in that day.

These words were spoken, or sung, by the Israelites for centuries as they endured persecution, captivity, oppression while they waited for the Messiah to come.

Jesus entered this world almost 700 YEARS AFTER THE BOOK OF ISAIAH WAS WRITTEN.

So…for 700 YEARS the people of God were encouraged by and chose to sing these words of praise and promise.

They were taken into captivity.

They were removed from their homes.

Their temple was destroyed.

And yet they still chose to believe the promise of God to be true for all those years.

I guess I have to ask this~

How long have you been waiting?

How long have you had to endure suffering?

It is a sobering thought.

Has it been 700 years?

Let’s read Isaiah 12 again…

What words or phrases stand out in this passage?

1. “Although you were angry with me”

This stands out to me because sometimes I feel that way. I feel like God is angry with me…that maybe He is punishing me. Whether that is true thinking or not, it sure makes me feel NORMAL to see others have felt the way I have and have declared those thoughts to the Lord.

2. “You have comforted me”

No matter what I have done, or thought I did, there is NOTHING that can keep the love of God away from me (Romans 8:39). He will always choose to comfort me. The question is, will I choose to recieve His comfort??

4. “I will trust and not be afraid”

Because God is my salvation (the One who delivers me from ruin, harm,or loss) I can trust Him. Will I CHOOSE to? When I trust in the Lord for who He is then I do not need to be afraid.

5. “With joy…”

I like the sound of that.

6. “Make known to the nations what He has done”

Do you declare the goodness of God? Do you tell others what He has done for you?

Do you think about His glorious things when you are afraid or only focus on the fear?

We need to really consider where our thoughts land when we are afraid. As we discussed yesterday, God does not wave a magic wand over you…you have to do your part in the action of faith.

If you say you believe, if you say you trust, if you say you have faith ..then what are you thinking about and telling yourself when you are afraid???

This passage speaks to the praise of God for who He is and what He does when He hadn’t brought to them the Messiah. They give praise because of the PROMISE.

We have the Messiah. Jesus has come. Not only that, we now have the Holy Spirit inside us to empower us, comfort us, counsel us, guide us,and to bring us peace.

If the people in Isaiah’s day, and for 700 YEARS after, could make this declaration of praise in times of trouble….can we do the same?

Our faith takes action on our part! And the time we need to flex those faith muscles is when we are afraid.

SHOUT IT ALOUD AND SING FOR JOY – no matter what your circumstance is- FOR GREAT IS THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL AMONG YOU.

Proverbs 3:25-26

HAVE NO FEAR of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared.

The book of Proverbs is said to be written as a way to teach people to gain wisdom, for discipline, to know how to do what is right, and to be able to apply wisdom while providing moral instruction through parables, poems, and couplets.

This book is credited to King Solomon as the author with others contributing for its completion.

In 1 Kings 3 and 2 Chronicles 1, we are told of Solomon (son of David and Bathsheba) becoming king after the death of his father. Both accounts tell us that God appeared to Solomon in a dream and instructed him to “ask for whatever he wanted God to give him“.

I can think of many answers I could have given…

However, perhaps as proof that Solomon was already pretty wise, his response in 2 Chronicles was, “give me wisdom and knowledge that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of Yours?”

In 1 Kings, his response is worded this way: “Give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong.”

In both accounts, God replied that He would give Solomon such a wise and discerning heart that there would never be another like him.

Discernment is the ability God gives to many people to think and make correct choices.

Needless to say…

If there is some advice given by someone the Lord designated as SO WISE and SO DISCERNING that none other would be like him, I think I’m gonna listen to what he has to say!

How about you??

So, as before in previous days of our lectio divina…now that we know that the words written in verses 25-26 were written by someone IN THE KNOW… let’s read them again together:

HAVE NO FEAR of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, FOR THE LORD WILL BE YOUR CONFIDENCE and will keep your foot from being snared.

What words or phrases stand out?

•Sudden disaster

The book of Proverbs may have been written in the day of King Solomon’s rule (circa 970-931 BC), they still have significance today.

Are we or are not in the midst of global climate changes? Are we not living in a time where earthquakes are shaking, hurricanes are flooding, fires are burning, and a plague is roaming???

I dare say there is MUCH to be afraid of as far as sudden disaster is concerned!!

What else comes to mind when the words “sudden disaster” is spoken?

* job loss

*waiting for a diagnosis or treatment plan

*election results

*social injustices

*worsening political or social unrest

*car accidents

*school shootings

I think it is easy to assume that there is quite a bit “out there” that could bring DISASTER into our lives suddenly.

DO NOT BE AFRAID OF IT.

HAVE NO FEAR OF IT.

For the thousandth time, we ask how is that possible? How can I NOT be afraid?

Those things listed are terrible and I do not want any of it anywhere near me or my loved ones!!

The wise king tells us this:

FOR THE LORD WILL BE YOUR CONFIDENCE.

The word “confidence” means to have a firm trust in something or someone.

Another way to say this verse, then, is that the Lord will be your TRUST.

Because we can trust the Lord, we do not have to be afraid.

I think I should write that again…

BECAUSE WE CAN TRUST THE LORD,

WE

DO

NOT

HAVE

TO

BE

AFRAID!!!

How can Solomon, or anyone, tell you not to be afraid of something?

How can he say “have no fear” for the Lord is your confidence and that should make all the difference in the world to you like a magic wand being waved?

I can honestly say that having trust in God is NOT a magic wand that removes fear.

Nor is it by God always removing the situation that is causing fear because I ask it of Him.

Being confident in God, having my trust in Him, Him being my confidence means that I believe in His ability to take care of it and of me in it because He loves me.

What is “it”??

Whatever IT is to you.

If the sudden disaster I fear the most is the results of the election, then I CHOOSE to trust my future to God.

God is my King.

God is the creator of this planet.

God rules with justice and authority.

Jesus still has the victory no matter who “rules” the United States of America via presidency.

If I fear the climate changes that are rapidly affecting the globe, then I trust God to know what He wants to do with creation as He is the One who created it in the first place!! One way or another, He will have His way…and His way is good.

If I fear an illness or a diagnosis, I trust my soul to the Lord. I trust He will give me strength. I believe that He will help me to endure whatever comes my way. I have confidence that He will stay by my side no matter what.

Have no fear…for the Lord is your confidence.

I can stand courageously, with my feet firmly rooted in faith, if I utter those words to myself in times of fear.

Lord,

Help my focus to be on YOU and not on what makes me fear.

Amen.

Psalm 56

Be merciful to me, O God for men hotly pursue me; all day long they press their attack. My slanderers pursue me all day long; many are attacking me in their pride.

When I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?

All day long they twist my words; they are always plotting to harm me. They conspire, they lurk, they watch my steps,eager to take my life.

On no account let them escape; in Your anger, O God, bring down the nations.

Record my lament; 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 God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

I am under vows to You, 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.

NIV

“The theme of this Psalm is trusting in God’s care in the midst of fear. When all seems dark, one truth still shines bright, when God is for us, those against us will never succeed.”

David is the author and is fleeing King Saul who is out to kill David for being favored in the eyes of men and God.

What phrases stand out?

In verses 3 and 4 we read this powerful refrain:

When I am afraid I will trust in You. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?

I don’t have an army chasing me, do you?

Some of us, though, may feel like we are under attack or persecuted at work or school. That people are on the watch for you to slip up so they can point out your shortcomings.

For some of us, that attack feels more emotional or spiritual. There is a situation being experienced that is causing fear.

Is it an illness that lingers? Or a constant threat of illness that will not lift?

Cancer?

Living alone?

Feeling as if you are alone or abandoned?

Do you need to make a change but the unknown future that change will bring is terrifying?

These verses make a claim in the face of fear…it is not a request asked for God to help not be afraid…

It is a declaration to be unafraid.

Why is David making that declaration? How can he??

Because he chose to put his trust in God…the One he chose to praise.

Again I ask…what are you afraid of?

Look into it…and declare I WILL NOT BE AFRAID BECAUSE I TRUST IN THE LORD.

Still fearful?

Say it again.

Why should that be effective?

Confident trust in something stronger than your circumstance brings courage.

Why?

The focus is now on the STRENGTH instead of the fear.

Because of my faith, I am promised eternal life. What can man, or an enemy or an illness or threat of suffering do to me, if my soul is secure and my God is already victorious??

Does that mean I will have victory over every attack that comes against? Every evil word? Every persecution? Every act of oppression? Every lie?

Does that mean I immune to harm being done against me?

No.

However, in the face of fear, I can rest with confidence that God is on His throne, He knows what He is doing, that He is the master of bringing good out of evil for His glory, that He is continually working all things for His good for those who love Him.

Do you believe in the promises of God?

In the presence of fear that is where you need to claim them!

Just like David did.

Psalm 3

O Lord, how many are my foes!!

How many rise up against me!!

Many are saying of me, “God will not deliver him.”

But You are a shield around me, O Lord; You bestow glory and lift up my head.

To the Lord I cry aloud, and He answers me from His holy hill.

I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.

I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side.

Arise, O Lord!!

Deliver me, O my God!!

Strike all my enemies on the jaw;

Break the teeth of the wicked.

From the Lord comes deliverence. May Your blessing be on Your people.

NIV

First of all…I LOVE the Psalms!!

Now that that is out of the way, here we go~

This is written by King David; his first born son, Absalom, had decided to take over the kingship before it was his due time. David went on the run when Absalom had manipulated the people into believing that he should be king and not his father. However, as long as David lived Absalom’s rule would be in jeopardy so the “obvious” answer was that King David must be killed.

Psalm 3 is David’s response to being hunted by his own son.

And we think we have problems, right?

Go ahead and read the Psalm again…out loud this time.

What words or phrases stand out?

#1 How many are my foes!

This is not a question. David is making a statement to say, “look how many are against me!!”

We may not have a literal army chasing us, hunting us down to kill us…but we do have things against us, don’t we?

In my own life, this “enemy” or “foe” has been a job crisis…an illness in me…an illness in a friend…a helpless feeling that I have nothing to offer those in need…my insecurities…my anxiety…time constraints (it is hard to be in two places at once, isn’t it??)…COVID…

I could keep going…but, now it is your turn to list what those “enemies” are that are pressing up against you.

To name or define your foe gives you a “face” to fight against.

#2 “many say God will not deliver me”

Wow. Am I the only one who hears that voice in my head?? You know the one…God won’t do this for you…God can’t do this for you…miracles don’t happen anymore…

David is speaking my heart now… I believe Lord, help my unbelief…

#3 ” but You…”

There is NOTHING more powerful in the face of doubt and fear than to utter those precious words…BUT GOD…

#4 You are a shield, You bestow glory, You lift my head

That means PROTECTION, HONOR,and STRENGTH be upon you because of your faith.

Lift your head child…look up…You are protected and not shamed.

#5 I lie down and sleep…for the Lord sustains me

Can you sleep when troubled?

Can you sleep when stressed?

Can you sleep when terrified someone will hurt you?

I have nightmares…my anxiety likes to skyrocket in the dark of night…worries I never knew I had like to wake me up and torture me with their endless circling.

Ever since I was a little girl, I have done one thing in those moments…I sing Jesus loves me this I know🎵🎶

When my son was younger we used to pray against bad dreams and fear…We would dress him in the Armor of God first (that Helmet of Salvation y’all…protection of the mind) and then would pray Philippians 4:8~ to think on good things.

When my mind is protected and my thoughts have been taken captive by good things (praiseworthy, honorable, admirable, etc…) I CAN SLEEP.

Boom. Mic drop.

The Lord sustains me.

#6 I will not fear…

Because I am rested…because I am sustained…because I am protected…

I will not fear.

It is starting to sound like a choice, isn’t it? It seems like my choices and my actions have more power over what makes me afraid than the situation or circumstance.

Whoa. Mic dropped again 🎤

#7 from the Lord comes deliverence and blessings

Where does my help come from?? It comes from the Lord.

The only thing I did not focus on that I need to mention is a very important part to all of this…David trusted in God and trusted that God heard his cry…

Psalm 3:4 tells us that David cried aloud to the Lord and the Lord answered.

Take captive your thoughts and think on good things not only on what you are afraid of.

We need to do our part in the face of fear, in the presence of our enemies, in the pressure that is tightening around us…

Remember that you are protected and sustained.

Cry out honestly to the Lord and then listen for His answer.

Today’s verse is almost a continuation of yesterday’s from Deuteronomy. Today, we read from JOSHUA 1:9~

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

NIV

Although the words are similar, the context in this verse is different from yesterday. This verse is God talking to Joshua.

Yesterday, we discussed that God had told Moses that he (Moses) would not be accompanying the Israelites into the Promised Land…therefore their fear was directed at the unknown future in a new place without their trusted leader.

Therefore, the beginning of the book of Joshua is the telling of the death of Moses.

Not only would Moses not lead them into the Promised Land, but he has now also died.

Joshua has been Moses’s understudy for all these forty years as they wandered through the wilderness outside the territory of the land promised to them.

Joshua knew Moses and knew God. Moses had commissioned Joshua as the new leader of the people in front of the people. The people knew, and Joshua knew, that he (Joshua) was chosen by God to step into this position that he had been training for.

In Joshua 1:5 God very clearly tells Joshua that “as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.”

Joshua is now the leader of over 2 million people.

Joshua is also deeply grieving the death of his leader, mentor, and friend.

The people are deeply grieving the death of Moses.

The people are also on the cusp of a take-over of an occupied land that they believe God has promised to them …those living in that territory do not agree.

Joshua is in serious need of encouragement.

Let’s read the verse again…

Joshua 1:9

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you where you will go.

NIV

What words or phrases stand out?

#1 The emphasis on have I not commanded you: God is reminding Joshua of what He had already said.

As a parent, I find I say “didn’t I already tell you that??” “Remember when I told you this?”

Sometimes I need to be reminded of what I was already told…that what I am currently hearing is not something new.

#2 The same words Moses spoke are the same words spoken here by God: Be strong and courageous.

Isn’t it reassuring when we hear someone else speaking in agreement with another you know and trust? Many times we may say “my dad used to say that”….”my doctor told me the same thing”…”I heard my teacher mention that”…

#3 The same encouragement given by Moses is spoken by God – don’t be terrified, don’t be discouraged.

#4 The reason why to not be scared? God will go with you.

Even better than Moses declaring this truth as a comfort for his absence is God telling Joshua that “I will go with you WHEREVER you go”.

It is reassuring for my mother in law for me to tell her that her son will be coming over to help her with something… However, it is a whole other level of comfort for her to hear those words from HIS mouth instead.

What is better?

Moses telling the people and Joshua that God will be going with them?

Or

God Himself telling them so…?

Kind of a no-brainer.

The question now is what does all this mean for ME when I am afraid??

In this circumstance it is important to remember that the task ahead was to do something big and bold, scary and daunting…and they needed to do it while uncertain and grieving.

There are too many times when we need to step forward in faith into an unknown situation…it is so hard….it is even harder when we have no idea what the outcome of that situation will be like.

There are too many times when that step of faith occurs when we are hurting…or because we are hurting.

Circumstances demand action.

Action requires energy.

Energy is not always readily available when the soul is weary.

What do we do?

Do not be terrified or discouraged.

Why?

Because there is nothing you will have to do alone.

You are not alone.

You will never be left alone.

Even when you cannot see another in your line of vision, you are still not alone.

The One who is with you does provide courage.

God is the God who shut the mouths of lions in the den for Daniel.

God is still the God who climbed into the furnace with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

God is still the God who released the shackles in the prison while an imprisoned Peter and John worshipped.

I will go with you wherever you will go.

Take comfort in those words.

Define what they mean for you.

“Lectio Divina” is the Latin term for studying Scripture. I am challenging myself to a 31 day mission of study…and you, my faithful readers, get to accompany on this journey.

I plan to take a passage from the Bible that has been suggested to me on the subject of fear.

Let’s clear our minds and begin…

Deep breath in.

Deep breath out.

Day 1

Deuteronomy 31:6

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you or forsake you.

To start, I must remind myself that this is Moses talking to the Israelites prior to their entry into the Promised Land after their 40 years of wandering.

They will also be entering it without him.

In verse 1 of this chapter, Moses announces to the people that God has clearly told him this news. Moses knows he needs to commission Joshua as the new leader of this nation so he is encouraging them all as they prepare to move forward.

For perspective~

Moses was the chosen leader by GOD.

Moses performed many incredible miracles in God’s name.

God spoke directly to and with Moses.

Moses was the first leader this Hebrew nation had had in a very long time.

The people were going to be moving into a new place without the incredible man of God who had led them this far.

They were facing an uncertain future in an unknown land without the leader they had grown accustomed to following and whom they trusted implicitly.

Let’s read the passage again…out loud this time:

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you or forsake you.

The words that stand out to me are do not be afraid or terrified because of them…God goes with you…He will never leave you.

I read once that an act of courage only occurs when that act is done in the face of fear.

Being strong and courageous means there needs to be a component of doing something when fear is present. Being brave is not doing something outside of fear…it is inside it.

That being said, God is acknowledging through this passage that there are things we fear. He knows that about us. Moses knew that as well.

#1 There is no shame in having fear or being afraid.

What we DO in the face of that fear is what He wants to address with us.

The words “of them” and “for He” are pretty powerful in this passage. There are many “them’s” to be afraid of aren’t there? It could be the unknown future, an illness we are facing, a hurt that is pending on the horizon, a past abuse…there is much that we could honestly confess “I am afraid” about.

What am I scared of? What brings me fear?

Something bad happening to my kids.

Failure.

Personal suffering through my illness.

Rejection or embarrassment.

Grief.

I am sure there is much more.

I am told…do not be afraid or terrified of THEM.

I am told, instead, to be strong and courageous in the face of what brings me fear.

HOW???

The Lord your God goes with you and will never leave you.

#2 The big question is: what does that MEAN for me for the Lord to be with me?

Do I trust Him?

Do I believe He is who He says He is?

If I say YES…can I be strong and courageous?

If I say YES…can I do what it is I need to do even though I am afraid?

Is my life reflecting that YES?

Am I serving the Lord amidst my fear or am I living in isolation?

Am I rejoicing IN the Lord or complaining?

Am I moving forward or am I chained to what could have been but is not what is?

Be strong and courageous for the Lord goes with you.

Lord,

Help me to be strong in my fear. Help me to find strength when I do not think I have enough. Help me to trust You to be with me in all ways, in all things, in all places. Help me to believe that in Your perfect love there is no fear.

Amen.

Life is hard.

These days are strange.

This stuff we are doing seems difficult.

We’re stressed.

It’s complicated.

These are phrases I’ve heard and said a lot lately.

Sound familiar?

Why now?

What next?

These seem to be the phrases that could easily follow our laments of frustration and despair.

We are living in troubled times…there is no doubt about it.

Are you like me and wonder what can I do to ease the burden of suffering that so many are experiencing? That I am experiencing??

What could I possibly to do to help??

I read an interesting piece of advice found in the book of Isaiah…as you read it, pray that the Lord will help you to open your heart to Him to be examined….

*this is some serious cause and effect stuff here….*

Isaiah 58:9-11

Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;

You will cry for help, and He will say, “Here I am.”

If you take away from your midst

1)the yoke of oppression

2) the finger pointed in scorn toward the oppressed or the godly

3) and every form of wicked, sinful, unjust speech

AND IF

4) you offer yourself to assist the hungry

5) and satisfy the need of the afflicted

THEN

your light will rise in darkness and your gloom will become like midday.

AND

the Lord will continually guide you AND satisfy your soul in scorched and dry places.

AND

He will give strength to your bones~ you will be like a watered garden or like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.

If you are wondering why your burden doesn’t lift…you cannot find peace…your grief remains unbearable…your hope out of reach…why God feels so far away or doesn’t seem to hear you …

I have to ask:

Have you called out to the Lord for help?

Have you acknowledged those who are oppressed and done anything to help them?

Have you stopped judging other people because their situation may look “better” than yours or their views are “different”?

Have you assisted in the care or needs of those afflicted?

Are you speaking words of kindness or only of complaint?

We must seriously look into ourselves and see where our hearts need to be cleansed and our opinions need to be challenged in order to truly recieve what the Lord is offering.

God is NOT a genie in a bottle to do as we command. His answers to our prayers may well be found in the blessing we receive when we help His people.

Stepping outside of ourselves takes intentionality.

Being involved in other people’s affairs can be messy and time consuming.

However, focusing only on what I need or my pain or my sufferings limits me to what kind of healing God provides as He uses me in the midst of my troubles to further His Kingdom.

These verses are a clear cut example of do this and get that promise of God.

Our salvation is free, but the promise of an abundant life these verses offer is up to us to achieve.