What do you fear friend?

What keeps you up at night?

What circumstances tempt you to intervene or provide a solution?

What are you afraid will never change?

Fear is a life sucker for sure.

If I had a dime for every time that fear has caused me to step out of the will of GOD … oh my … I would probably be sitting on a tropical island this very moment drinking a little fruity drink with a tiny umbrella … non alcoholic of course.

Oh the Spiritual and emotional ground that fear can steal.

Fear of loss, fear of the future, fear of man and what he thinks.

King David grappled with fear many times. We see this in the scriptures as he ran for his life … crying out to GOD … begging rest from his enemies.

But David’s struggles and victories, give me hope.

The Psalms he penned all those hundreds of years ago reveal a man who was desperate for GOD to show up.

How many times have you been desperate for GOD to show up in your life?

Maybe you are desperate right now?

David landed smack dab in the middle of desperation. The man after GOD’S own heart was on the run from a jealous, King Saul who wanted to kill him.

In first Samuel 21 we learn what fear made David do. He lied to Ahimelech, the priest, claiming to be on a special assignment for King Saul. In addition, he faked insanity before King Achish of Gath.

David reacted to fear in extraordinary ways to say the least. And in truth … his actions were not customary to his true character.

Can you relate? What has fear caused you to do that went against the grain of your conscious? Your character? And even your faith?

Oh the story gets better. David flees Gath and continues to hide from Saul. In chapter 23 of 1 Samuel, David finds himself faced with fleeing again after he helped Keliah defeat the Philistines. Once again, GOD reveals to David that Saul is coming for him, so David flees.

David stayed in the wilderness in the strongholds, and remained in the hill country in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but GOD did not deliver him into his hand.  1 Samuel 23:14

And Saul sought David every day … but GOD did not deliver him into his hand. 

Oh my … sweet friend … just like David, we are fleeing and fighting for our lives in so many regards. And yes the struggle is real … it’s exhausting … it’s discouraging … but GOD is in control of our situation.

Let me prove that HE sees and cares about what you are going through.

“When Saul and his men went to seek him, they told David, and he came down to the rock and stayed in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard it, he pursued David in the wilderness of Maon. Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side of the mountain; and David was hurrying to get away from Saul, for Saul and his men were surrounding David and his men to seize them. But a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Hurry and come, for the Philistines have made a raid on the land.” So Saul returned from pursuing David and went to meet the Philistines; therefore they called that place the Rock of Escape. 1 Samuel 23: 25-28

Oh my! Did you just see that? GOD sent the Philistines as a distraction to draw King Saul away!

How cool is that?

Oh friend … GOD sees your fear … your desperation … and HE is working on your behalf … even though you may not feel or perceive it. Time and time again we see GOD’S faithfulness played out on the pages of His historical word.

So what can we take away from this encouraging story about David?

1 – We must guard against fear causing us to sin … and turn away from GOD. We must not step out in flawed wisdom and make poor choices that separates us from GOD’S presence and will.

2- TRUST GOD in the overwhelming moments of fear. Get honest and cry out to Him just like David did in the Psalms. Pour out your heart and pen your own Psalms to the Creator.

3- Never underestimate the omniscient GOD who sees everything … especially what we can’t see. HE knows the exact moment of our deliverance and it will be right on time.

4- Believe that HE is always working on your behalf. He is your defender in all regards.

“Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.”   Isaiah 64:4

5- Openly rebuke the enemy who brings fear into your life. If you have been born again, you have authority over Satan in the name of JESUS. Don’t let him put fear on you.

6- Trusting GOD protects your peace of mind. You can’t fear and trust GOD at the same time. GOD doesn’t contradict himself in that way. Trusting GOD cancels out fear.

We have a COVENANT GOD who promises to never leave or forsake us. Man will let us down, but GOD will never forsake us.

Sweet friend, won’t you let a trustworthy GOD take care of your fear?

Elevation Worship … I Will Call Upon The Lord