Psalm 56:1-4
1 Be merciful to me, O God, for men hotly pursue me;
all day long they press their attack.
1 Be merciful to me, O God, for men hotly pursue me;
all day long they press their attack.
2 My slanderers pursue me all day long;
many are attacking me in their pride.
3 When I am afraid,
I will trust in you.
4 In God, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I will not be afraid.
What can mortal man do to me?
Swelyn Hughes said that his counselling experiences showed that over 80% of Christians are in denial in relation to their unpleasant emotions. Another writer commented that "Christians are particularly adept at numbing themselves against painful emotions....they persuade themselves they should always be joyful because God is in control. Strong emotions such as fear, anger, or depression are stigmatised as inappropriate because God is love and grants peace."
The uncomfortable psalms provoke us to move out of denial and into admitting our fear to God. We are not to indulge in our feelings of fear and wallow in them. Instead, we are to put our fears in perspective. We are to remember that God has delivered us and will always deliver us.
Do I experience such feelings of fear. You bet!
Over the week, I have to practise what I learned. I have to admit my fears to Him and under the same breath, proclaim His faithfulness to deliver me from my fears. And He did and continues to do so. Praise the Lord!
Indeed, as the psalmist said and so do I ... "When I am afraid, I will trust in You." I hope that you will do that too.
God bless.
Steven
The uncomfortable psalms provoke us to move out of denial and into admitting our fear to God. We are not to indulge in our feelings of fear and wallow in them. Instead, we are to put our fears in perspective. We are to remember that God has delivered us and will always deliver us.
Do I experience such feelings of fear. You bet!
Over the week, I have to practise what I learned. I have to admit my fears to Him and under the same breath, proclaim His faithfulness to deliver me from my fears. And He did and continues to do so. Praise the Lord!
Indeed, as the psalmist said and so do I ... "When I am afraid, I will trust in You." I hope that you will do that too.
God bless.
Steven
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