Years ago, there was a presidential scandal. It was a scandal so bad that it ended with the resignation of a President. President Richard Nixon had to have been shocked, depressed, and humiliated.
One day you are one of the most powerful men in the world. You have power, you are the center of attention, you are surrounded by Secret Service agents whose only job is to protect you at the risk of their own lives. What you say impacts the economy. You live in a mansion with people attending to whatever you want. You have a private jet, helicopter, limo, and a private retreat at your disposal as you carry out the nation’s business.
But then it all changed.
Even more traumatic and humiliating than what happened to Mr. Nixon were the events that hit King David when his son Absalom led a rebellion against him. David had reigned at King for decades as a powerful leader in the world. He led a strong military force. He had become amazingly wealthy, living in a palace with servants and ultimate power.
But then things began to change.
The people had begun to resent David. Along the way, David sinned with Bathsheba, and ordered the death of her husband Uriah. His family began to fall apart with rape, revenge and murder all occuring in his own family. Absalom began to gather support with the people against his father to become the King. Absalom formed a conspiracy to overthrow David. David realized to survive he had to run for his life into the wilderness and hide out.
It was in this context of David’s humiliation and fear as he fled from his own son that wanted to kill him that he wrote Psalm 3.
“Lord, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! Many are saying of me, ‘God will not deliver him.’” Psalm 3:1-2 (NIV)
What is God’s plan for facing fear in our lives? First, we have to realize that…
We will have to face fear in life.
In verses 1-2, we find out David’s enemies were increasing in number. Things were snowballing in a bad way for David. The idea of his own son trying to take over his throne was bad enough, but now an army had formed to take his life.
In verse 2, David’s enemies were questioning that David was not worthy of being the King and that God had abandoned him and would not help him.
None of us have ever had to face the situation David is facing, but we all face multiple opportunities to be afraid each and every day. What should we do when those fears come at us? We need to do what David did–David prayed his fears. He comes to God and tells what he is facing. God already knows, but David is not informing God, but instead he is processing his fears in the presence of God. He turns to God for help in a situation that he cannot overcome his fears in his own strength.
When fear comes, remind yourself who God is.
“But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. I call out to the Lord, and He answers me from His holy mountain.” Psalm 3:3-4 (NIV)
David focuses on God: God is our shield, our glory, the restorer of our joy, and the God who answers prayer.
God is our protector and defender, God was David’s foundation and identity, God restores the humble who turn to Him bringing joy to those He restores, and God hears our prayers. In his fear, David took those fears to the Lord.
When you take your fears to the Lord, He gives peace.
“I lie down and sleep; and wake again, because the Lord sustains me. I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side.” Psalm 3:5-6 (NIV)
David slept well. With armies after him, with people trying to take his life–David slept well because the Lord sustained him.
David took his terrifying experience of fear, pain and anxiety and turned it into a song of praise as he prayed his fears to God. God can take whatever your worst fears are and deepen your trust in Him and lead you to produce praises that will encourage others.
Whether it is a minor fear or a major life-threatening fear, the Lord will hear your prayer and help you process your fear with Him just as He did with David.
