(Dear friends: Sorry I have gotten behind on my blog posts this past week. It's been a hectic and busy week and I am sure you can relate. Please go back and read the posts from Wednesday of this week forward until today as they are now caught up. Thanks for your support and patience. This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice!)
5I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place. 6The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? -Psalm 118:5, 6 (KJV)
Numerous times in the Bible we find where God comforted people by telling them to not be afraid. With this comes the assurance of the Lord’s presence and what He will do for us. When the Lord tells us to fear not what follows is the reason we are not to be afraid. God is going to work it out, He will be with us, and He is going to bring about resolution to the problem whatever it may be.
The psalmist said in verse 5 that when he was in anguish he cried out to God and the Lord answered by setting him free. The Lord “set me in a larger place.” I love this terminology. It’s a word picture which speaks of being brought out of the confinement of worry, doubt, and fear. We have all these fears and pressures and they can easily crowd in around us. The Lord can lift us up spiritually and set us in a larger place. This is the place of peace, for the Lord is there with us reminding us of His presence.
Fear can work all sorts of negative processes in our lives. We can lose our appetite, food loses its taste, we are doing something which should bring us enjoyment, yet we cannot stop thinking about the problems we are facing. On a physical level fear can cause stomach problems, high blood pressure, and insomnia. Fear will rule our every waking moment if we let it. This is why the Lord has come to us telling us not to be afraid. When we place our faith in the Lord He brings us to the place where we have peace – even though the problem has not gone away and may not for a while. This is the larger place of which the Bible speaks. The Bible reminds us how the Lord is with us. “The Lord is on my side.” Don’t you think we sometimes forget this? We forget the truth of scripture which reminds us that if "God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).
The Lord has not called us to walk in fear. Christ has called us to walk in faith – vibrant, joyful, and victorious faith. My friend, do not be ruled by fear. Instead, be guided by faith in Jesus Christ. He is with us, and His power is greater than any problem we will face. Trust the Lord today and let Him bring you to this larger place of His peace.
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