April 21, 2024

Psalm 56.4 (and 11)(NIV)
In God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

If we don’t trust when times are tough, we don’t trust at all.*

What is the worst thing that another person has ever done to you? Did he do it on purpose? Did she know she was hurting you? Human beings can do some very awful things to each other. Jesus’ death is confirmation of man’s depravity. The news reports bombard us with stories of the atrocities humans can inflict on each other. It is natural to be afraid in the face of evil.

  

“Trembling and trust often co-exist in us,”* but our faith in God sets us above the fear of man. If human power is too puny for us to trust in it, then neither is it something for us to fear. We must do what is right – even if we can’t defend ourselves against those who twist and pervert our intentions.

When I am facing the unknown I like to ask myself, “What is the worst that can happen?” Jesus tells us, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.” (Matthew 10.28) The worst that can happen could be some pretty bad stuff but it can’t touch the soul that trusts in the Lord.

Jesus calls us to engage the world in spiritual battle, not retreat from it in fear.*