New: 23 May 2025; Update: 9 June 2025
Trusting God
when you are Afraid
Psalm 56
Whenever I am afraid,
I will trust in You.
In God (I will praise His word),
In God I have put my trust;
What can flesh do to me?
Psalms 56:3-4 NKJV
Is Fear your worst Enemy?
Is fear your worst enemy? For most people, fear is the one thing that paralyses or hinders them from being courageous in life and taking action to pursue their dreams. People have observed that fear kills more dreams than failure ever will. We must find a way to overcome fear and live by faith! Living a life of 'faith over fear' is an adventure—often a challenge, but a good one. The psalmist knew the reality of fear, yet he also knew, more importantly, and power of faith in God to overcome his fear: by trusting God and His word! Living a life free of fear is true freedom. Here's some insight and encouragement from Psalm 56.
Faith over Fear
When David wrote this psalm, the historical background was as follows: he was seized by the enemy, the Philistines at Gath (see headline; 1 Samuel 21). David was being persecuted by king Saul and was now captured by the Philistines, Israel's archenemies. We may learn from this that sometimes life gets even worse than we could think of, yet there is a God who can do exceedingly abundantly more than what we may think or ask for! He does so according to the power that works inside of us (Ephesians 3:20-21). The strength in you is more important than the trouble around you: if you have a strategy to defeat the fear inside of you, you can gain courage to overcome the obstacles around you. David was in 'hot pursuit' (NIV) all day long, the enemy hounding him down (NKJV) without a break (Psalm 56:1-2). The oppression was heavy; the persecution was tough. So David asked God to be merciful to him (v 1). Whenever he was afraid he turn to God by faith.
The psalmist's strategy of 'faith over fear,' was simply this: trusting God and His word whenever he was afraid (vv 3-4). Fear is real, but faith is powerful! Figuratively speaking, faith is like the light that casts out the darkness of fear. The psalmist's response to fear was faith: he trusted God and His word despite the worries, doubts and fears of this circumstances. Faith helps us to stay strong in the face of fierce opposition and keeps us in a state of moral clarity when the enemy conspires against us with twisting lies in order to slander or destroy us (v 5-6). God will set things straight as we trust Him (v 7). We are not asking for God to revenge on our enemies, but we can ask for vindication from their wickedness. We remain in the light by doing what is right before God. We won't compromise with sin and evil. Faith empowers us to know that God is for us and that He will turn back the enemy when we call on God for help (v 9). 'If God is for us, who can be against us?' Paul wrote (Romans 8:31). Faced with persecution and tribulations of all sorts, Paul trusted God who made him more than an overcomer through Christ and His love, from which nothing can separate us (vv 32-39). When Paul was troubled even to the point of death, God raised him up by His, not Paul's, strength (2 Corinthians 1:8-11). The apostles were hard pressed, yet not crushed; perplexed, yet not in despair; persecuted but not forsaken; struck down but not destroyed (4:8-9). John knew that He in us is greater than he in the world (1 John 4:4). God is faithful. Faith over fear works! Let faith be your response to fear.
In God, whose word I praise,
in the LORD, whose word I praise—
in God I trust and am not afraid.
What can man do to me?
Psalm 56:10-11 NIV
Trusting God and His Word
God and His Word are ONE. Jesus is the incarnate Word of God who displayed God's glory and revealed God's nature (John 1:1-18). God acts in line with His word. His word establishes His will (Isaiah 55:10-11). You can trust God and His word. He counts your tears and records them (Psalm 56:8). You can pour out your heart before God who hears you as you trust Him at all times (Psalm 62:8; see E11). God is faithful; His word is true. You can trust His word, for through it God proves Himself faithful and expels all fear (Psalm 56:10-11). As you meditate on His word day and night, being diligent to obey His commandments, you will gain strength and courage for what is ahead of you (see Joshua 1:9). God's ways guides us in the paths of righteousness (Psalm 1; A6). God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). We can be brave and courageous when we are inspired by His word and guided by His Spirit. We can live a life of faith over fear (see D9).
Also, be sure to pay your vows to God and present your thank offerings to Him (Psalm 55:12; cf., Hebrews 13:5-6). Do not forget all about God after you asked Him while in trouble. Stay faithful to God for He delivers you from death and other trouble. He keeps your feet from stumbling so that you may walk before Him in the light of life (Psalm 56:13, NIV). He who is able to keep you from stumbling until the Day of Christ is faithful and to Him be all the glory (Jude 24-25). Let faith be your response to fear; let trust be tour response to doubt; and let gratitude and faithfulness to God be your response all of life's challenges and difficulties.
'Desperate Times, Desperate Measures'
David was rescued from his enemies as God proved Himself faithful. In this curious moment of his life (see 1 Samuel 21:10-15) of being captured (with the danger of being killed or handed over to king Saul and perhaps be killed then), David played a madman. The king, presumably having enough madmen already, let him go. As they say, 'desperate times, desperate measures.' Scripture neither approves nor discredits David's actions in this hard-pressed situation. We should be careful to judge his behaviour negatively, nor should we take some validity for strange action from it. Yet we can learn that sometimes rather 'unorthodox' measures are needed to escape serious trouble. But above, all we must remain faithful in our trust towards God and His word. He is faithful, no matter how tough circumstances may be. There is a way out in God's faithfulness (1 Corinthians 10:13). Trust Him always, especially when you are afraid. Let faith be your response to fear—faith over fear!