Fearing Nothing

Psalm 118:6

The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?

It has been over eight months since my surgery and running is going well. Now I want to increase my mileage and the intensity of my workouts. There is no blueprint going forward; I just need to be smart and careful in my training and above all trust God. I need to remember that He is on my side.

The Lord is on my side: does this mean that I’m guaranteed to hit all of the running goals I set for myself? No, it means something better – it means that I do not have to fear what lies ahead. There will be trouble, set-backs, and disappointments. But why should I fear or dread them? God is on my side.

So often, though, I forget or ignore that God is on my side. In fact, I start to believe the opposite. When things are going well, I start to think, “Is this all going to come to a crashing halt? Is God going to throw something at me that I don’t want?” And then I start to depend on things other than Him.

I have to turn that thinking around. I need to remember that God is on my side. No matter what He allows in my life, His plan for me is good. He loves me and can be trusted implicitly. That promise is not just for me – it is for you too.

And the next verse goes even deeper into the promise: the author of the psalm says, “The Lord is on my side as my helper.” The original language translates to “The Lord is on my side and takes my part.” God is not just “with” us, watching with a detached perspective to see how we will handle the situation. He doesn’t just cheer us on. He takes our circumstances upon Himself and provides what we cannot. He gives aid, comfort, relief, and power. When we begin to realize this, we can put our trust in Him rather than the things around us. We can focus on Him rather than our circumstances. We can look with hope and peace to the future rather than look to the future with fear and dread.

Are you in a dark place or feeling alone? Or are you in a good place but cannot enjoy it for fear it will not last? Ask God to help you put your trust in Him. Ask Him to open your eyes to see Him there as your helper. Let’s do that together now.

Lord God, often my attitude is one of fear. I worry about the things of this world and I neglect to realize that You are always on my side. I forget that Your love is perfect and You are eternally trustworthy. Open my eyes to see You in all of my circumstances. Help me to live in peace, knowing You are on my side and helping me. In Jesus’ name I pray, AMEN.