30 Days - an Overview of the Bible in Just Thirty Daysნიმუში

Overcoming Fear

A large and intimidating-looking, fifty-year-old truck driver was asked in a TV interview: ‘If you could be any age you wanted, what age would you be?’ There was a long silence and then he replied, ‘Three. When you are three you don’t have any responsibilities.’ He was yearning for the feeling of childhood: the sense that you are loved, protected and perfectly safe. This is the sense, above all, that somebody else is in charge.

The fears of life are many and varied: the future, the dark, being laughed at or attacked, bankruptcy, loneliness, growing old, death, singleness, relationship break-up, illness, failure, war and so on. However, the most common command in the Bible is, ‘Do not fear.’ It is not that you don’t have any responsibilities nor that you can go through life without facing problems, difficulties and sadness. But it is possible to enjoy the security the truck driver was talking about. Someone else, God, is in charge and, whatever happens, you can be sure that you are loved, protected and ultimately perfectly safe for ever.

Psalm 91

In Psalm 91, the writer expresses one of the many moods of faith. He is celebrating his own confidence in the sheltering providence of God. Perhaps he had just been protected by God in a dangerous situation. All of us (just like those we read about in Scripture) are likely to experience such times of joy and celebration, as well as times of sadness and frustration. Throughout the ups and downs of life, you can be confident that no final harm can touch you because nothing can ever separate you from the love of God in the present or throughout eternity (Romans 8:35–39).

With that knowledge, you can live a life free from fear. ‘If you make the Most High your dwelling… then no harm will befall you’ (vv.9-10). He is, of course, not saying that everything will turn out just as you want it to. It does not mean that you can avoid times of ‘trouble’ (v.15). Faith in the sheltering wings of God does not remove physical danger or the need for precaution against it. However, as this Psalm demonstrates, you can be assured that God is involved in every detail of your life for all of eternity.

1. The psalmist testifies from his own experience (vv.1–2)

Four names for God are given. He is ‘the Most High’ – everything is under his control. He is ‘the Almighty’ – the all-powerful one. He is ‘the Lord’ – the universe is subject to his lordship. He is ‘my God’ – he is in a personal relationship with you and me.

There are four metaphors of security: you are safe in his ‘shelter’, ‘shadow’, ‘refuge’ and ‘fortress’. There are three positions of security: dwelling, abiding and trusting. Therefore, you can be totally confident of God’s protection.

There’s a strong connection between what you think and what you say. What you think will come out in your words. But also your words can affect what you think. What you say to God can change your thinking. The psalmist tells us to speak aloud about God’s goodness: ‘Say this: “God you’re my refuge. I trust in you and I’m safe!”’ (v.2 MSG).

2. The psalmist speaks to us (vv.3–13)

He promises God’s protection from every kind of danger (vv.3–6), ‘the snare of the fowler’ and ‘the deadly pestilence’ (v.3). Then he says that God is like an eagle protecting you under his wings, giving a picture of his tender love (v.4). His ‘faithfulness’ is a ‘shield and rampart’ (v.4), a picture of military protection. He promises release from the ‘terror of night’ (v.5) – the sudden fears, often out of proportion, that prevent us from sleeping. He also promises protection from sudden attacks or disasters (v.6).

He promises God’s individual protection from ultimate harm (vv.7–10). If you love him (v.14) nothing can take away your relationship with him. God is sovereign and loving. As Paul puts it in the New Testament, ‘In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose’ (Romans 8:28).

He even promises miraculous protection saying that God promises that he will send his ‘angels’ to look after you (vv.11–13).

You do not need to be afraid about the future and you can enjoy the present without fear.

3. The Lord himself speaks (vv.14–16)

He promises eight wonderful things: deliverance, protection, answered prayer, his presence, rescue, honour, long life (you now receive ‘eternal life’) and most important of all, salvation. He promises that he will rescue you, protect you and answer your prayers. More than that he promises ‘I will be with you’ (v.15) in trouble. This is what makes all the difference. Even in the darkest times, he is with you. You are never alone.

Today, bring all your fears and anxieties to God in prayer. As the apostle Peter wrote, ‘Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you’ (1 Peter 5:7).

It is not that you don’t have any responsibilities nor that you can go through life without facing problems, difficulties and sadness. But it is possible to enjoy the security the truck driver was talking about. Someone else, God, is in charge and, whatever happens, you can be sure that you are loved, protected and ultimately perfectly safe for ever.

Prayer

Lord, thank you that I can dwell in your shelter and rest in your shadow. I say to you today: you are ‘my refuge and my fortress’ (v.2). I will trust in you.

References

© Nicky Gumbel, 2024

This reading plan is adapted from the book 30 Days by Nicky Gumbel. It is published by Hodder and Stoughton in the UK, and by HarperCollins Christian Publishing in the USA.