February 24, 2023
When Fear Taunts You, Do This
Katy McCown
Today’s Truth
As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, stepped out from his lines and shouted his usual defiance, and David heard it (1 Samuel 17:23 NIV).
Friend to Friend
I crouched behind a wall in my living room, peeking out only for a few seconds at a time. I didn’t really want to keep watching, but for some reason I couldn’t stop.
A real-life tightrope walker dared to cross a gorge near the Grand Canyon on live television. I didn’t know this man from Adam, but my fear for him and his potential plummet to the bottom of the canyon was real. With each step he took I prayed, please God let him make it across!
The wind blew so hard at times he stopped and crouched down on the rope to lower himself beneath the gusts. He would pause and pray then stand up and continue across.
Yet quite possibly the most ridiculous part of all of this was that it wasn’t his first time to attempt something so risky.
Today’s Truth records what may have felt like a risky situation for God’s chosen people, the Israelites, “Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, stepped out from his lines and shouted his usual defiance, and David heard it” (1 Samuel 17:23 NIV).
With battle lines drawn, the Philistine champion, Goliath, challenged the Israelite army to send someone out to fight him. Day after day Goliath shouted his taunts, and the verses that follow record two very different responses to his words.
The Israelite army fled in great fear. (1 Samuel 17:24)
David, however, accepted the challenge. (1 Samuel 17:26, 32)
Too often, I’m afraid I march into daily battles like the Israelite army, wondering if this will be the time God doesn’t show up, rather than charging full speed ahead like David—knowing Who I’m following and counting fully on Him.
Like the time I sat behind the wheel of my van with a long drive in front of me. I’d made this drive many times; however this time, I would face the road as the sole adult in the car with all six of my kids.
Enter fear, panic, doubt, maybe even a few tears.
But before I fell completely over the edge of my emotions, God interrupted. He pointed me to the many times He’d provided on this road before and counseled me to count on Him again.
And so, instead of wondering if God would show up on this trip, I threw all my concerns on His shoulders. God, help us go the whole way without one stop. Help no one have to go to the bathroom. Help the kids not fight. Help the traffic keep moving. Help me not get tired. Help no one get hungry.
The same confidence David acted with is available to us through Jesus. When we choose to make Jesus Lord of our lives, God is not only with us, He is also in us. Since God is able, and God is with us, we can count on Him.
As our friend up on the tight rope crouched beneath the winds, he had at his disposal one thing that changed everything. Across the canyon, on the other side, his father spoke into a microphone that linked to an earpiece and fed directly into the soul of his son.
The son walked as the father talked.
The father encouraged, supported and guided, and the son took another step. He cheered and comforted and listened, and the son took another step. Step-by-step he crossed the cavern and arrived safely at the other side.
Just like this father did for his son, God walks with us and guides us safely from one place to another. When we follow Jesus onto what feels like a tightrope of trust, instead of focusing on what might happen, we can remember what already has happened.
When we remember God’s past faithfulness, we can follow Him into the future with faith, not fear.
Is it time for you to step out on the tightrope of trust?
Let’s Pray
Dear God, Help me rely fully on You today as I count on Your unending love, unbridled power and unchanging character. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
How has God demonstrated His faithfulness and character in your life?
Use your answer to finish this sentence: Since God {fill in your answer from the question above}, I can move forward with Him today.
Display this sentence somewhere you will see often as a reminder of God’s power, faithfulness and complete control in your life.
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© 2023 by Katy McCown. All rights reserved.
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Originally published Friday, 24 February 2023.
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