"What Time"
When tempted by fear, assertive and proactive action must be the response of born again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.
"What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee" (Psalm 56:3).
Or, any time, every time, all the time we feel challenges of insecurity, the privileged responsibility of responding to God in faith lies at hand, nearer than our next breath. Such confidence affirmed leads to peace in our hearts, clear thinking in our minds, actions empowered by the Holy Spirit, and relating to God and others in love. This stands in stark contrast to the self-centeredness fostered by fear, which if embraced leads us to focus on anything other than the God whose promise abides:
"When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee, and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee. When thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt no be burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee" (Isaiah 43:2).
"I will be with thee." No waters, rivers, fire, or flames can drown or incinerate the inner strength of those who hear and believe the ancient assurance of God's "very present help in trouble" (Psalm 46:1). Again, in times of challenge to our confidence, we must inwardly arise and act.
"I Will Trust In Thee."
"I" - the matter is personal, between ourselves and God. No one can do our believing for us, nor can any threatening foe keep us from trusting God.
"Will" - the matter is volitional. We have a choice to make when tempted to being afraid. The decision is stark: regardless of the nature and measure of the challenge, or how we feel, we will either trust the Lord, or we will distrust Him.
"Trust" - "the just shall live by faith" (Romans 1:17). Or, the peace of our hearts will die by unbelief. "To live is Christ" declared the Apostle Paul (Philippians 1:21). Our role in experiencing the life of the Lord Jesus in times of trouble demands that we avail ourselves of His promised peace: "we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God" (Romans 5:2).
"In" - we will either set our gaze on the enemy that tempts us to fear, or we will look into the heart of our Heavenly Father, the perfectly faithful and trustworthy heart revealed in the pages of Scripture. We will fix our focus on threatening waves, or we will see the risen Lord Jesus walking upon them as He speaks to our hearts, "I is I, be not afraid!" (John 6:18-20).
"Thee" - Again, a personal matter, the most personal of matters. Through Christ, God grants free entree unto the throne of grace, where we find "grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16). We find it because we find Him, the holy One who cannot lie, and who cannot be other than who He is to His trusting children. We discover yet again that the Lord Jesus truly is the Prince of peace. "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusteth in Thee" (Isaiah 26:3).
No excuses exist for succumbing to temptations of fear. None. Our Heavenly Father is tenderly compassionate toward us, but He abides no lack of confidence in those whose hearts are inhabited by His dynamically enabling Holy Spirit. Yes, there is something to do "what time I am afraid." Any time, every time, all the time, we must determine to believe God and affirm the truth of His Word. The peace of our hearts is at stake. Far more, however, the glory of God and our role of being encouragements of confidence depends upon our chosen "obedience of faith" (Romans 16:26). The stakes are indeed high, but the glory of tranquility in Christ that awaits us in "What time" is infinitely greater. "I will trust in Thee."
"Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
(Philippians 4:6-7)
Weekly Memory Verse
"Lord, Thou hast been our dwellingplace in all generations."
(Psalm 90:1)
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