Today’s proverb is one I have had to embrace in faith when my emotions ran contrary to its promise and my feet wanted to take to flight!

Proverbs 29:25 – “The fear [trembling; anxiety; dread] of man bringeth [gives; yields; delivers; sets] a snare [trap; noose; bait; lure]: but whoso putteth his trust [confidence; hope] in the LORD [Jehovah; Self-Existent, Eternal God] shall be safe [exalted; defend; i.e. strong].”

Fear…the fear of man, fear of failure, fear of embarrassment and fear of falling from favor is a sinister emotion that makes man its slave.  Fear is to man what a snare is to a beast; its insidious bite maims and the more it is entertained the tighter its grip grows upon the soul.  When fear takes hold on a heart it will inevitably drive the soul to desperation.  Oh friend, fear will trump faith when a believer disregards God’s promises and makes light of His authority and providential care.

“Whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe” (29:25b). What a blessed promise for God’s people!

Following the death of Moses and for the first time bearing the responsibility of leading God’s people without his mentor, Joshua was no doubt tempted to allow fear to take hold on his heart.  He had walked in the shadow of Moses for 40 years, but now he faced the prospect of leading a difficult people and facing great enemies as he crossed the Jordan River into the Promise Land.  God gave to Joshua what He gives to all those who will trust Him—the promise of His presence and the assurance of His promises–“Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest” (Joshua 1:9).

Facing the threats of his enemies and the frailty of his own flesh, King David expressed the comfort of God’s loving care and presence when he wrote, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4).

Are there circumstances and people who provoke fear and anxiety in our souls?  Absolutely; however, the challenge for us is to determine to whom and to what will we turn when fear takes hold?  Will we allow the fear of mortal man to rule our hearts or will we trust God Who is Immortal, Omnipotent and has promised, “There shall no evil befall thee” (Psalm 91:10).

I close with a thought and a challenge.  It has been said, “Courage is fear that has said its prayers.”  My dear friend, when fear grasp you by the throat and your emotions tempt you to retreat…pray and take courage for the Lord is with you!

Psalm 91:1-16 (KJV) ¹  He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
²  I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
³  Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
⁴  He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
⁵  Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
⁶  Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
⁷  A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
⁸  Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
⁹  Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
¹⁰  There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
¹¹  For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
¹²  They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
¹³  Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
¹⁴  Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
¹⁵  He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
¹⁶  With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

Copyright 2015 – Travis D. Smith