Delivered From the Fear (Psalm 34:4)

The idea

Psalm 34 comes out of 1 Samuel 21. David, anointed but not yet king, was running from Saul and ended up in the enemy city of Gath, where he pretended to be insane to stay alive. Then he wrote, "I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears." Look at what the verse leaves out. God didn't remove Saul or the caves, and David spent years on the run. He took away the fear. God also heard David as he was, without making him clean up first. Fear is what drives worry, and David's response was to actively seek God.

Take it with you

• When you're afraid, seek God first. Don't wait to get yourself together.
• Ask Him to change you, not only your circumstances.
• Keep this verse in a note on your phone for the moment fear hits.

Reflect

Which would you rather lose today: the situation, or the dread of it?