FROM FEAR TO PRAISE- HOW DO I GET …THERE?

“WHEN I AM AFRAID”-{Psalm 56:1-5}

David was in a difficult place, and he says “When I am afraid I will trust in You.” It’s easy to say to someone when they are afraid, “trust the LORD.” But what does that mean, and how? Depending on where the person is in their walk and maturity, the way that phrase” just trust the LORD” may at times come across as a bit flippant, and even cruel, throwing out a phrase but possibly uncaring. Just the “right thing to say, but perhaps not taking time to listen, to care for the person. The person is afraid, and they need more than what they may consider”‘a phrase,” though it is not. It is truth, but to be able to share with them WHY and HOW to Trust in HIM in such times is often what is needed to remind them and us as we are prone to forget. For some, “trust the LORD,” is enough to realize they need to get their attention back on Him for others it is confusing. David shows us what and how to trust Him in times when we are afraid. He shows us five characteristics of the LORD around this verse to help us and what helped him “trust the LORD” when he was afraid, Namely,

1. – THINK ON and TRUST IN – His COMPASSION–

He begins with, “Be Gracious to me …”{compassionate}. {v1}.

2. – THINK on TRUST IN – His CREATIVE POWER – “..GOD.”{V1}

The word for “God” is “Elohim” which is the first word in Genesis that introduces us to the Creator and is used 35 times in the first TWO chapters of Genesis and speaks of Creative POWER. It speaks of Him as the majestic RULER, the idea of OMNIPOTENCE, or CREATIVE and GOVERNING Power.” It is to this One that DAVID initially cries out to.

3. THINK ON and TRUST IN – His SOVEREIGNTY – {V2}-

“MOST HIGH. In verse 2 -{NKJ Version}

David reveals his conditions and that of his foes who are daily relentless in their torment of him. He writes,”My enemies would hound me all day, For there are many who fight against me, O Most High.”It is the name”Maron” which translates “Most High” that is used here and speaks of God as ” the lofty or The Exalted One.” While David could see these men exalting themselves and caught up with their own self-importance and lofty attitudes, he appeals to One who alone is “The Exalted One.” David asks God to Exalt Himself that they may see someone beyond which words could describe! While David’s enemies exalted themselves, David asks God to Exalt Himself! David calls This Creator, Compassionate one “The Exalted One.” For there is none higher than Him, None mightier than Him, None who extends such compassion from such a position of Omnipotence as Him, and He alone is to be addressed and He alone is “The Exalted One.” Neither David’s circumstances, nor David’s foes, nor his fears, held the position worthy to be Exalted and have dominion -but God alone!

4. THINK ON and TRUST IN – His COMPANIONSHIP AND COMFORT. v 3 –

“When I am afraid, I will put my trust in YOU.”

Or as one translation says, “Even when I am afraid, I still trust You.” It was in the time of hardship and hurt that David heralded his faith “IN GOD I HAVE PUT MY TRUST.” It was in a time of Fear that David exercised his Faith. But his Faith was based on the character of God as He had revealed Himself in His Names and His Ways and through His Works and Word. David was not “hoping” or as we would better describe our own “faith”at times as merely”wishing.” But his faith had reason to cement itself in the Faithful Character of this One, who is God! What does it take for us to get to that place? What circumstances or pain or wonderment of Him will bring us to rest and deposit all that we have and are into His Creative, Compassionate, Exalting, Controlling, and Comforting Safety?

5. THINK ON and TRUST IN – HIS WORD -Verse 4–

“In God, whose WORD I praise, In God, I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me?”

“We are only as good as our word” I heard someone once say. If that is the case I am not much good at all. For I have often made promises I did not keep, said things I did not mean etc. But God is not like us, He cannot Lie and He cannot fail. And He keeps His Word, for there is no one who can thwart it, hinder or impede it. God is God and gives cause for praise in what He says.

David “PUTS” his trust in God, Creator, Compassionate, Exalted, and in Control, Comforting One, and God’s Word causes him to Praise.

David’s fears were real, but he does something and it is recorded for us when the temptation to be afraid would seek to paralyze us emotionally, and aspiritually we can choose to be strong and KNOW What to DO and WHOM To LOOK TO when those times come. we must…such as…
THINK RIGHT- THINK ON THE CHARACTER OF GOD, and the Spirit of God will strengthen our hearts as we CHOOSE to think on HIM… His character. Remember when the spies went out to survey the land and they came back and gave a report? Two told of what was in it which God had said He was giving them, the other spies said they it was full of “GIANTS'”- the people made the CHOICE to focus on the giants and not the LORD or His Promise. Whom we focus on will often dictate our response

SUMMATION;

THINK AND TRUST… HIM…SPECIFICALLY

“When I am Afraid I will PUT MY TRUST IN YOU!” When he was afraid his response? I will CONTINUALLY put my CONFIDENCE in YOU…IN YOUR Compassion, Creative Power, Sovereignty, Companionship, Word and I will “PRAISE HIM…” “In whose WORD I WILL PRAISE…”

Note the time of fear ends up with a time of PRAISE when GOD is THOUGHT ON, CONTEMPLATED, MEDITATED UPON, AND TRUSTED IN!!

From Fear To Praise happens when we THINK RIGHT about Him and as a result you have “fuel” to feed your THOUGHT life and it will result in TRUST IN HIS CHARACTER!

At times we ALL encounter “fear” and indeed we need to “Trust the LORD” but to do that we need to be able to recall and THINK RIGHT about Him. THINK ON HIM and by His Grace TRUST IN HIM! The word “Trust” as used here {Batach} is a verb, and figuratively means “to trust, be confident or sure- be bold, {confident, secure, sure}… be bold confident…{Strongs’s Concordance} His confident trust and hope were in the LORD. His character, what he knew of Him, and all who He is!

We need to fill our Mind with Truth so the Holy Spirit can recall Truth do us to stabilize, strengthen and assure us when times of fear come our way.”When I Am Afraid I will trust In YOU.” When he was afraid his response? I will CONTINUALLY put my CONFIDENCE in YOU!

Can you commit the Reference Psalm 56:1-5 and the Five Attributes I have mentioned not just for you but for OTHERS when they are afraid to help turn their minds to the Truth so they can be strengthened as David and countless others have in times of temptation to yield, cave into fear. Fear is real “BUT GOD…” has the means to overcome it and His means is Faith in Him and His Word is the fuel for us to build our faith upon so we have fuel to quench the fires of fear through APPLYING His Word and Praising Him we can!

God Bless,

Aidan.