Quieting Fear by Remembering God’s Greatness
By Jennifer Slattery
“I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done” – Psalm 143:5, NIV
When our circumstances feel dire and uncertain, we can bolster our souls with faith by lifting our gaze to the One who is solid and sure. Recently, a loved one’s doctor sent her to the emergency room concerned she’d developed a life-threatening condition. Upon learning about this, I rushed to the hospital to see her. I arrived to find her room a bustle of activity with nurses rushing in, taking blood for testing, hooking her up to IVs and monitors, their tone and vague responses evident that they shared our concern.
Wanting to bring comfort, I held my loved one’s hand and began to pray. I asked for God’s miraculous intervention and thanked Him for all the ways He’d cared for this person prior. I must have proclaimed His faithfulness for a good five minutes—this formed the bulk of my prayer. I did this to remind us both of God’s heart, of His love and character revealed through the works of His hands. This helped to quiet our fears and bolster our faith, because we knew our Lord doesn’t change. The One who formed our every cell, who breathed life into our lungs, and food to our bodies, who causes the sun to rise every morning and the moon to shine each night, remains with us in our hardest and most frightening circumstances.
Our present crisis might feel insurmountable, and focusing upon it only increases our sense of helplessness. Shifting our thoughts to the God who is, who was, and who always will be the Creator and sustainer of all that exists, however, reminds us of our Father’s all-sufficient and ever-present care.
This practice sustained David, ancient Israel’s second king, during some of his darkest and most frightening seasons. While Scripture doesn’t reveal the circumstances surrounding Psalm 143, his words demonstrate that this was a time in which he felt intense fear and despair. He begins with a desperate plea for God to “listen to his cry for mercy,” stating in verses 3-4, “The enemy pursues me, he crushes me to the ground; he makes me dwell in the darkness like those long dead. So my spirit grows faint within me; my heart within me is dismayed.”
Have you ever felt this way? So overwhelmed by your circumstances, you felt like life had crushed you and extinguished your inner spark of life?
If so, you probably resonate with David’s words. Like I said, Scripture doesn’t tell us when, or precisely why, he felt so beaten down. But in 1 and 2 Samuel, it does record instances when he likely felt like this. The first was when he spent over ten years, and perhaps twenty, fleeing ancient Israel’s first king, a man named Saul, who was intent on murdering David. During this time, David lived as a fugitive, hiding in caves, and at one point, even seeking refuge in the land of his enemies.
Then, after Saul’s death and David has risen to power, one of his sons turns against him and tries to usurp his throne. Pause for a moment to consider how deeply this would wound him. Imagine how you might feel if your mom, dad, or, if you have children, your son or daughter, turned against you, turned hundreds of people against you as well, and wanted to kill you? That would be a deep, deep betrayal. Not to mention, a terrifying situation!
One in which God would be your only hope.
This was the place in which David found himself. Whether fleeing Saul or his son, David felt struck on every side, his soul faint with overwhelming sorrow and discouragement.
But notice how he coped. After beseeching God for help and expressing his anguish unfiltered, he wrote, “I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done” (Psalm 143:5, NIV).
He paused to remember and think deeply upon the power, goodness, and faithfulness of God. This is a powerful way to increase our faith in times of fear. When we reflect upon all the ways God has helped us in the past, and on His awesomeness as revealed in Creation, our current crises feels less overwhelming. We’re then able to place it in proper perspective—in our Father’s strong yet tender, loving, and unconquerable hand.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
The next time you fall into what feels like an impossible situation, take a moment to intentionally recall the goodness, power, and faithfulness of God. Thank Him for ways He’s cared for you in the past, and contemplate His works revealed through creation. As you do, may He remind you that, while the difficulty before you feels insurmountable, it isn’t overwhelming to Him. As Scripture states in Romans 8:31, “If God is for us, who can be against us.” To which I’d add, “If God is for us, who or what can be against us.” Nothing and no one can thwart His hope-filled plans for us and our loved ones.
In all things, and all times, our Father holds us secure.
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/aldomurillo
Jennifer Slattery is a writer and speaker who co-hosts the Faith Over Fear podcast and, along with a team of 6, the Your Daily Bible Verse podcast. She’s addressed women’s groups, Bible studies, and taught at writers conferences across the nation. She’s the author of Building a Family and numerous other titles and maintains a devotional blog at JenniferSlatteryLivesOutLou
She’s passionate about helping people experience Christ’s freedom in all areas of their lives. Visit her online to learn more about her speaking or to book her for your next women’s event, and sign up for her free quarterly newsletter HERE and make sure to connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and GodTube.
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