“I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me.
He freed me from all my fears.
Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy;
no shadow of shame will darken their faces.
In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened;
he saved me from all my troubles.
For the angel of the Lord is a guard;
he surrounds and defends all who fear him.” (Psalm 34:4-7).

I read today that God doesn’t ask us to be fearless but instead invites us to bring our fears to Him. Faith is being afraid but trusting and continuing on anyway. I think those who say they are never afraid are largely in denial or not really honest about what they’re facing. Maybe there are a few who are genuinely fearless but the vast majority live with the ever present reality of fear.

The antidote to fear isn’t denial and it isn’t some macho exercise in mountain climbing or cliff diving. It’s a continual seeking of the face of God. It’s a continual dependence on God, a moment by moment surrendering of self.

Desperation is good if it drives us to prayer. Of course, it shouldn’t take exhausting all other possibilities before we resort to prayer, but often that’s the case. Prosperity and pleasure have a way of making us forgetful of our need. Only pain can waken us to our deep need of God’s grace and mercy.

Lord, thank You for everything in our lives that drives us to You. Keep us ever mindful of You in every season so that we can keep our eyes fixed on You in every circumstance and know the joy of Your faithfulness and provision. Amen.