To Stave Off the Fear

Yesterday in my Bible study, we talked about moving past our fears into trust.  When you cover more or less the same topic in several different settings in a short amount of time, it's time to say "Ok, God, I hear it loud and clear now!"  Not that we can ever hear this message too much:  We have NOTHING to fear (or worry about) if we belong to God.  I was so encouraged by all the stories about how God's plan and timing became evident in these women's lives, and while there are always times when we don't understand why something happens, we can always trust that God is in control.  At the end, I read this passage to the group:

Ps. 27:1-6

¹ The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?

² When the wicked advance against me to devour me,
it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall.
³ Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.

⁴ One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.
⁵ For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.

⁶ Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me;
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;
    I will sing and make music to the Lord.  (NIV)

Of course it doesn't say we'll never experience enemies, foes, armies, or war.  It does say we can be confident in God.  During our Sunday School class on worry, we discussed finding Scripture passages to inspire us, passages that remind us of who God is and why we don't need to worry.  I think this one fits pretty well.