May 18
Today’s Truth
This I know: God is for me (Psalm 56:9 CSB).
Friend to Friend
I often try to quiet fear by pretending it doesn’t exist. Clever… I know. But alas, it does exist and that’s not always a bad thing. To the contrary, 
it can actually keep us safe in the proper context. When my house was struck by lightning and lit with fire, fear sounded an emotional alarm, insisting that I escape – and fast. In this instance, fear was good. It kept me safe.
In many instances, however, fear is not good.
I’ve found that while it’s natural to be afraid at times – human, even – it’s best to not allow feelings of fear to consume and control large spaces of real estate in my heart. In Psalm 56, David handles the intersection of his fear and faith nicely.
In Psalm 56, captured by the Philistines in Gath, and in Psalm 57, hiding in a cave to escape the pursuit of Saul, David sifted through honest feelings of vulnerability and desperation. I imagine his reality was one of shaky hands, pulse raging wild, and brows soaked in sweat. Yet fear was silenced as he made the powerful decision to redirect his emotions toward a more productive, more faith-filled response when David chose to trust God.
By choosing to trust God in the hiding and in the chains, David’s fear shifted to faith.
When we choose to trust God in the midst of trials, our fear shifts to faith.
Faith shuts the mouth of fear.
“When I am afraid, I will trust you” (Psalm 56:3 CSB).
“You yourself have recorded my wanderings. Put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book? Then my enemies will retreat on the day when I call. This I know: God is for me” (Psalm 56:8-9 CSB).
These weren’t just flippant statements or memorized verses. These were sturdy declarations. Deliberate choices made by a deeply determined worshiper. The kind of choices that change and calm a frantic heart. The kind of choices that speak peace to anxiousness. The kind of choices we can make when we’re afraid. The kind of choice we can make when fear screams loud within.
Bring it on. Fear is a liar.
We can choose faith, knowing God is for us.
Will you choose faith today?
Let’s Pray
Dear Lord, Sometimes the anxiousness and fear in my heart can overwhelm me. But You promise to be faithful at all times and are deliberate to catch every tear in a bottle. This is true no matter what has me hiding or running. Please lead my heart to Your freedom, grace, strength and peace today.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
How would you fill in the blanks of this statement today? “When I am afraid or anxious, Lord I will ____________________.”
Write that in your journal. Write 3 or 4 different variations of it! Make a powerful decision today to redirect your emotions toward more productive, faith-filled responses. Let’s pray together today. Meet us in the comments section to share your heart and pray for one another.
More from the Girlfriends
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Thank you for your devotional. I’m going straight to my bible to read this psalm, put it into practice
My mom just learned that her left carotid arteries is severely blocked and the other one is not far behind with no surgical recourse. This is leaving her with a sense of despondency and the realization that she may be coming to the end of her time here on earth. She’s a Christian, and so are me and my two siblings. However, I’m the oldest and will probably be the one to help initiate hospice if that is the route that she wants. Dear Lord, please guide my heart and thoughts as we go down whatever path you’ve set for my mom and my family. And Lord, help guide us to wise medical counsel as we seek second opinions. I love my mom, and I’m not ready to say our temporary goodbye yet.
God bless you and your family. My thoughts and prayers are with you!
This devotional couldn’t be more timely as the message and Psalms 56 echoes in my mind and heart. The month’s end is nearing and income and employment to meet my obligations is crucial. I pray for resources, opportunities, ideas that will allow me to cover these obligations and going forward. The unknown causes terror within me so Father I ask for your peace and that you hear every prayer request mentioned here, guide us, strengthen us and be with us, amen.
Thanks for the daily devotionals. They are very encouraging. God Bless The Ministry.
My husband is recovering from surgery (hernia and gall bladder), the emotional and physical pain has been tough. But for me Jesus’ pain is a continuing reminder of how much we can endure, through grace. TRUST, will be the word imprinted on this yoke for this time in our lives.
Thanks, Gwen for this reminder of Psalm 56. I’m praying for peace and healing for my husband that doesn’t have a personal relationship with my Jesus. I pray that God will use this time as a moment of planting a seed in Him, that I haven’t been able to do by example.
When I am afraid or anxious I will tell the Lord and listen for his voice, confident that he will care for me. Thank you for sharing how you are learning to be honest about being afraid and turning it over to God.
I love the devotional thanks for sharing it please pray for my daughter Liz that her Social Security Benefits will be Approved this time she’s been fighting it for awhile she’s wants to give up on it
When I am afraid or anxious, I will make a solid decision to trust the Lord and move on with my day.
I will declare with passion and confidence that I am disciplined spirit, soul, and body in the name of Jesus. I am a single-minded, focused believer, and I am stable in all my ways.
I will name it to tame it and write down what’s bothering me, not psychoanalyze it lol, and move on with my day.
This time in my life is unsettled, to say the least. My husband of 42 years retired, then left me. He finalized it by divorcing me. I’m forced to leave my home, not knowing where I’ll live. I’m hoping to be near family. So, the devotion today resonates with me.. Its hard to face the challenges at this time of my life. I know the Lord is with me. I know He’ll provide for me. Yet I battle fear of the unknown. This is where faith comes in. O Lord increase my faith! Please pray for me. Thank you
Thank you for putting this out there. I agree with your opinion and I hope more people would come to agree with this as well.