Praise the Lord.
Blessed are those who fear the Lord,
who find great delight in his commands. Psalm 112:1
At the beginning of Psalm 112 God lays the groundwork for those who will be able to face even terrible fear and anxiety with faith and courage. Clearly God is marking out those who are His own. When you have a relationship with God you have an incredibly strong foundation to stand upon. It might seem strange that a verse helping you to overcome fear and anxiety begins with the fear of God. But we should take courage in our fear and reverence of God because when you fear God–you have nothing else to fear. Once you are in a reverent relationship with God, you are a child of the most powerful Being in the universe. He has promised to help you. No terrible situation or event that you face can overcome Him.
Their children will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
Wealth and riches are in their houses,
and their righteousness endures forever.
Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.
Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely,
who conduct their affairs with justice. Psalm 112:2-5
Being in a relationship with God changes us and prepares us to face life’s challenging events. Whether a sudden death in the family, terrible medical diagnosis, or looming financial disaster–no matter the situation–a believer can depend upon Jesus and His promises. Standing strong on His word empowers us with the faith we need in anxious situations. And frankly, it makes us better human beings.
Surely the righteous will never be shaken;
they will be remembered forever.
They will have no fear of bad news;
their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear;
in the end they will look in triumph on their foes. Psalm 112:6-8
Anxiety can come from fear that takes root and grows. It creates strongholds in our minds that grow so large we can lose sight of God. But if on the other hand we set down deep roots in God, placing our faith in Him and growing in wisdom because of our fear and respect for God (Psalm 111:10) we will be well armed in our battle with anxiety. And we will not be fighting alone.
Through faith and confidence in God our enemy anxiety will lose its hold over us. Our fears will melt away under the fiery light of God’s promise to protect and deliver us.
They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor,
their righteousness endures forever;
their horn will be lifted high in honor.
The wicked will see and be vexed,
they will gnash their teeth and waste away;
the longings of the wicked will come to nothing. Psalm 112:9-12
Fear attacks us all from one corner or another. Yet the person who trusts in God can stand strong in the most fearful of situations, not because they feel like it, but because they have a trust in God greater than any fear that attacks and brings on a state of anxiety.
Prayer: Dear Lord, anxiety often tries to steal away our courage and trust in You. Help us to hold fast to a faith that delivers us from fear and anxiety. For You are our Defender and Deliverer. Thank You Jesus! Amen.
