Journey to the Cross

Pause

But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me.

Psalm 13:5 (NLT)

Listen

The Lord is my light and my salvation. Should I fear anyone? The Lord is a fortress protecting my life. Should I be frightened of anything?

When evildoers come at me trying to eat me up— it’s they, my foes and my enemies, who stumble and fall!

If an army camps against me, my heart won’t be afraid. If war comes up against me, I will continue to trust in this: I have asked one thing from the Lord— it’s all I seek: to live in the Lord’s house all the days of my life, seeing the Lord’s beauty and constantly adoring his temple.

Because he will shelter me in his own dwelling during troubling times; he will hide me in a secret place in his own tent; he will set me up high, safe on a rock.

Psalm 27:1-5

Think

In the original Star Wars trilogy, the great Jedi master Yoda uttered one of cinema’s most famous pieces of wisdom: “Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Angers leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.”

Why is fear so dangerous? The entire Bible is jam-packed with people saying, “Do not be afraid.” Psalm 27 is no different. And as the psalmist proclaims his trust in God, he begins by naming and quieting his fear.

Fear is the starting point, the root. No bully, racist, or even terrorist set out to do evil without first being commanded by a deep fear. Moreover, no great lover of this world ever began without first taming his or her fear.

The power we give to our fear is the difference between a life that is free to love and trust God and a life that is bound in anger and suffering.

Pushing fear out of the driver’s seat is the first step in trusting God, and that God holds your life and the whole of creation, still.

Blake Tommey

Pray

Capable God, there is so much to fear in this world, and sometimes I can’t help but be afraid. Create in me a trusting heart that pushes fear out of the driver’s seat. Free me from my dread so that I can love this world better than anyone ever has. Amen.

Go

Act. Laugh. Breathe. Stand. Free. Doubt. Root. Trust.