“Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared” (Prov 3:25,26).
Wisdom (knowing and putting to practice the ways of God) will provide security in our lives, something that is missing in the lives of many in these days of increasing instability worldwide. Economic conditions are quite volatile globally and the threat of terrorism weights heavily on the hearts of most believers as well as unbelievers alike. Indeed, a spirit of fear (as opposed to faith) is so rampant within the Church in America that there is no discernible difference compared to those rejecting God when measured by the incidence of depression, use of psychiatric drugs, heart disease related to stress and hypertension, or other fear-related problems.
Yet this situation is entirely contrary to what we find revealed for our understanding in the word of God. Trusting in the LORD is meant to remove fear and doubt by assuming that our heavenly Father is trustworthy and will faithfully care for His children. Even in the most difficult of times, those committed to walking in the light of God’s word are to trust Him to work on our behalf (Romans 8:28). Why is it then that many fail to live in any kind of confidence that God will keep their foot from being snared by ruin or sudden disaster? Since God’s word is not only true and certain (John 17:17), the only reasonable answer for the insecurity of many is that of believing a lie.
Jesus’ description of Satan as a liar and the father of lies is too often ignored. The enemy of our souls will constantly test our resolve to trust in the LORD and to not lean on our own understanding. Such is why Paul exhorts the believer to take captive every thought to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). We have a powerful example set before us as to the consequences of unbelief when the Israelites failed to trust God in the wilderness. As a result, their bones remained scattered on the desert floor instead of entering the promised land as Paul reminds us (1 Corinthians 10:1-5, 11-13). Fear of disaster instead of faith kept them from entering Canaan at Kadesh because of a bad report by the spies.
The antidote to having fear of disaster or ruin is found in the instructions of Psalm 91. The psalmist exhorts us to habitually keep our place of abiding under the shadow of God with prayer and meditation on His word (Psalm 1:2). It is in daily seeking the presence of the LORD and submitting to His will, making Him our life and dwelling place, that peace and deliverance from harm and sudden disaster will be found: “If you make the Most High your dwelling – even the LORD who is my refuge- then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent” (Psalm 91:9,10). This knowledge need only to be united with faith and it will become living reality.
