Bulletin Thought - August 2016

August 7, 2016

Bulletin Thought

A Thought from Pastor Bryson,

Whenever I’m afraid I will trust in You.

(Psalm 56:3 NKJV)

We live in frightening times. Mass shootings are likely to happen anywhere. We’re in an election year for a new President and extremism abounds. Peace is fragile; uncertainty permeates our society; families are struggling, and the list could go on. Yes, we live in frightening times.

Psalm 53 was written by David while he was being held as a prisoner by his enemies. He had every reason to be afraid as he was a hated man and his enemies certainly meant him harm. But David was able to find peace in the midst of his storm. The words he wrote are applicable to us today – “Whenever I’m afraid I will trust in You.”

David kept his focus on God, his deliverer. David remembered God’s care for him in other situations and David was confident that God would not forsake him now. In verse 4 David states, “In God I have put my trust.” That statement alone points to the key of David not being afraid. His trust was in God, not in himself or any other person.

The times are frightening, but God has not changed. If we keep our focus on Him and place our trust in Him, He will see us through. The Bible states the just shall live by faith, not faith in man or self or in any political system, but faith in the living God. When we allow other people or things to usurp God’s rightful place in our lives then the result will be fear because no one or no system can care for us as God does.

We live in a fallen world and challenges will abound but God has always looked after His children. That’s why David could write – “Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me” (Ps. 23:4). Realize that even now, in this present day and time with all of the challenges that abound, we are not alone, God is with us. How else could we have made it this far?

Whenever you find yourself being threatened by fear, do what David did – trust in God. He is faithful and He will see you through.