His Word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures
The devil has been planting seeds of fear and doubt into my head over the past few days. Fear of the unknown, fear of the future, fear of being out of control. However, God has been faithful to remind me of his goodness during these times. He has promised to be good to me, so why should I fear? Jeremiah 29:11-14 reminds me of that promise.
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile."
David was often fearful, or felt forsaken by God. However in Psalm 94 he says "He who planted the ear, does he not hear? He who formed the eye, does he not see? ... He who teaches man knowledge -- the Lord -- knows the thoughts of man, that they are but a breath." (vs 9-10) and later... "For the Lord will not forsake his people" (vs 14), and finally, "When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul" (vs 19) and "But the Lord has become my stronghold, and my God the rock of my refuge." (vs 22).
To fight this fear, I've been meditating on God's love and promised goodness to us. If he is good, what is there to fear? Even when I am bitter, fearful or angry, God will continue to uphold me with his righteous hand of love. (Psalm 73) "Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." (vs 25-26).
God commands us not to fear: "fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; will strengthen you and I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" (Isaiah 41:10). If God promises to uphold us, and to give us good things (Psalm 34, Psalm 37), what do I have to fear? The devil has no hold on me.
God is so much greater than any problem I may face, so what gives me the right to think I am outside of his grasp? "Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one,and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing." (Isaiah 40:26)
"It is God who brings out the stars; it was God who first set them in space; he is their Maker and Master -- they are all in his hands and subject to his will. Such are his power and his majesty. Behold your God!" (Knowing God, JI Packer)
Yet at the same time God is personal and knows each and every thing about us. We cannot flee from his presence (Psalm 139:7), he has formed us, and loves us, and nothing we can do is hidden from him (vs 13-15).
Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! (vs 23-24)
So if the Lord is good, promises to uphold us and give us good things, He is in control of the heavens and the earth, and still cares for each of us personally, and he has a wonderful plan for our future, I ask myself yet again, what is there to fear?
The answer? Nothing.
May the power of God overcome the whispering lies of the devil in my mind and bring comfort and peace for me to trust in Him for my future.
It is well with my soul.
