IN THE WORD
“Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the
Lord, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation” (Isaiah
12<https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-wpDRP43D6tn4uFMmtrOxNE6exoO-71M4Q3ANjyM5T7Njrkh_GOuU8ORSpbd4BHiT7rA6C0iwGk1CcKTA6erKzOOgnmhrkunyLUpo5Nw-YLTXrpfXEOp5__8uaVEhmP5n6iX8RbwDtTUiZyxghN5pzU2osslCTUXOROm1D38u3ytoxxnKo3j0g==&c=F5ETxMY6skd1iH3rCKHCQV985TZ-VEyo9_6zbUOS6WulrAkxkT8NGA==&ch=z5-bwxSWH3_0gHIBm6Ihkhjbbm4468o-C_s5xKiPvzDaNad-4eyw6A==>:2)
OF THE WORD
Sometimes it seems we are surrounded by a thick forest of fears. Wars, crime,
terror, and natural disasters threaten our sense of security. Financial crisis,
sickness, death, loss, and loneliness can leave us inwardly trembling and
anxious.
God’s people of the Old Testament experienced fear, too. When the Egyptians
were at Israel’s back, God divided the sea and rescued them. In celebration
Moses and the people sang, “The Lord is my strength and my song. He is my
Savior” (Exodus
15:2a<https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-wpDRP43D6tn4uFMmtrOxNE6exoO-71M4Q3ANjyM5T7Njrkh_GOuU8JHEF7ipaIGp9Mg1EHCtobKv39kbrOL_rZ2YcMKC65dNY4S2f8srgG_zRzWHe1Voep18FFwsi-5gj_2HdGa8cC2Vj3woh_BxtVncjUtoZ97uxtFVW8e_aRmDXPe9csCKQ==&c=F5ETxMY6skd1iH3rCKHCQV985TZ-VEyo9_6zbUOS6WulrAkxkT8NGA==&ch=z5-bwxSWH3_0gHIBm6Ihkhjbbm4468o-C_s5xKiPvzDaNad-4eyw6A==>
GW).
Regardless of circumstances, can we truly trust and not be afraid? Faced with
foreign invasion, disaster, and ruin the prophet Habakkuk confidently said:
Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though
the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep
in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will
be joyful in God, my Savior (Habakkuk
3:17–18<https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-wpDRP43D6tn4uFMmtrOxNE6exoO-71M4Q3ANjyM5T7Njrkh_GOuU0YJMyfohUmDHa2OGLzg7K9K4tvbjk7AIe6UT3kwfK2qiy8Ro_fcuMXYiHLqy4LaFrCn0XbK24ETOPwtlC6bnNai4i_N2yCuctq87AXuG_FVjf0GbWSGoX96vZOMm_ICVA==&c=F5ETxMY6skd1iH3rCKHCQV985TZ-VEyo9_6zbUOS6WulrAkxkT8NGA==&ch=z5-bwxSWH3_0gHIBm6Ihkhjbbm4468o-C_s5xKiPvzDaNad-4eyw6A==>).
WALKING WITH MY LORD
Lord, when You walk with me on my life’s pathway, teach me to trust and not be
afraid. Then I will sing Your praises! In Jesus’ name. Amen.
