In this week's blog, we read David proclaim that he is not afraid of
anything or anybody. I believe that this declaration was not a result of
some macho bravado that he had in his own abilities but rather in his
unwavering confidence in his God to protect him.
We know from
David's story that he did not just talk the talk, but he also walked the
walk as well. When all of Israel was gripped with a paralyzing fear
facing a daunting Philistine army, this young shepherd boy was the only
one in Israel's camp ready, willing and able to take on the giant
Goliath!
The reason why this young man wasn't afraid of Goliath
was because he learned earlier on in the shepherd's field of God's
faithfulness to protect him from every enemy. When a bear came to
looking devour the sheep under his care, God was faithful to protect
him. When a lion came uninvited, he too was killed by this teenage boy.
David knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that he had nothing to fear
because of the greatness of his God.
It is interesting to note
that in this same psalm, King David also deals with the fear of parental
rejection when he says in verse 10...Though my father and mother
forsake me, the LORD will receive me. (NIV) No matter what we are afraid
of, the love of God is enough to calm every troubled heart.
It
is an undeniable fact that a son who knows he is loved has a different
perspective on fear. When we are convinced that God is for us, then we
will be convinced that nothing can ultimately stand against us (Romans
8:31) even though many things may try.
In 1 John 4:18 it
says... There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear,
because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made
perfect in love. (NIV) The more we are convinced that we are perfectly
loved, the less that fear will have a hold on our life. It is an
absolute fact that fear cannot abide where love abounds!
The
more that we are convinced that we have a Father in heaven who is our
protector, the more we will rest in His ability to watch over us and
less in our own ability to protect ourselves. Knowing that we are loved
does not insulate us from trouble in this fallen world but it will
sustain us even in the most difficult of seasons.
Paul the
Apostle writes about this in Romans 8:35-39... 35 Who shall separate us
from the love of Christ? Could oppression, or anguish, or persecution,
or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 Even as it is written,
“For your sake we are killed all day long. We were accounted as sheep
for the slaughter.” 37 No, in all these things, we are more than
conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that
neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things
present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor
any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of
God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (WEB)
I believe that it
is our Father's heart to persuade us that nothing in all creation can
ever separate us from His love. The more that this revelation becomes
real to us, the more it will eclipse any struggle or hardship we
experience in this life.
My prayer today is that we would all be
more convinced today of the love God has for us than when we woke up
this morning. I pray that every expression of an orphan mindset that
causes us to live in fear would be consumed by the ferocious love that
God has for us.
May each one of us embrace the boldness of a
lion (Proverbs 28:1) that causes us not to be afraid of anything or
anyone. May we choose to live our lives in the secret place of the Most
High, living in the safety and shelter of His wing (Psalm 91). May we
echo the words of David today and declare that the Lord is our light
and our salvation... whom shall we fear!
2 Timothy 1:6-7 6
For this cause, I remind you that you should stir up the gift of God
which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God didn’t
give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control. (WEB)