I feel so small and alone, standing by the Christmas tree. Tears seep from the corner of my eye and fall unnoticed. I feel frozen in time, invisible. I scream. No one turns their head – no one notices -no one helps…I don’t know what to do. Have you ever felt completely alone and afraid?
Kind David did.
His worst fears were confirmed when he found out Saul was trying to kill him. While trying to escape, one of Saul’s spies recognized him. He freaked out and ran to the hometown of none other than Goliath. When he got there, things went from bad to worse. The king recognized him and so David decided the best means of escape was to act insane.
Talk about being alone, scared, and not knowing what to do! In Psalm 34 David shares his thoughts during that time of fear and running in his life.
5 Steps to Hope
1. Praise – In the middle of fear, David focuses on God’s power, love, and mercy.
Psalms 34:1-3 “I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!”
2. Pray – He then turns to God for help, guidance, and deliverance.
Verses 4-6 “I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. The poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.”
3. Shift your focus – In the middle of messy circumstances, David acknowledges that God is good. He can’t be anything less that good – because that’s who God is.
Verse 8 “Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!”
4. Fear God – He runs to God and takes refuge in Him. He chooses to seek peace -knowing that no matter what is going on around Him, God is with him and working all things for good.
Verses 8b-14 “Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! The young lions suffer want and hunger, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.”
5. Deliverance – David rests assured that even though the situation may not change, He is not alone. God will be with him all the way through whatever he is facing.
Verse 7 “The Angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.”
Verse 20 “He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.”
Verse 18 “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”
Like David, I know God is good. He is redeeming the years the locust have eaten. There is no guarantee I won’t face scary circumstances again, but I do know I won’t have to face them alone. I am not unseen and unnoticed -I am delivered, answered, saved, redeemed, safe, heard and lacking no good thing. God, is my refuge. Angels are encamped around me. The same truths David prayed are true today. I can rest in a God that is unchanging, eternal and always good.