Hebrews 13:6 “So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” There is a particular kind of fear that rarely announces itself openly. It does not necessarily involve danger, illness or uncertainty about the future. Instead, it arises from our concern about…

Psalm 34:4 “I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” Fear has a remarkable ability to occupy our thoughts. Sometimes it arrives suddenly, following unexpected news or an unsettling experience. At other times, it develops quietly, growing through repeated worries about things that may never happen. We can…

Isaiah 26:4 “Trust ye in the Lord forever; for in the Lord JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.” There are moments in life when trusting God feels almost instinctive. Something unexpected happens, a difficulty arises, or we find ourselves facing circumstances beyond our ability to control. We turn towards God because we recognise our need for help,…

2 Corinthians 5:7 “For we walk by faith, not by sight;” There is something reassuring about being able to see where we are going. Whether we are planning a journey, making an important decision or preparing for a change in circumstances, we naturally want to know what lies ahead. We gather information, consider possibilities and…

Psalm 62:8 “Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah.” There is a difference between trusting God and pretending that everything is all right. Yet sometimes, without quite realising it, we behave as though faith requires us to conceal our difficulties, minimise…

Psalm 112:7 “He shall not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord.” There is something remarkably unsettling about unexpected bad news. An ordinary morning can change with a single telephone call. A message appears, a concerning headline catches our attention, or somebody shares information that immediately raises questions about…

Psalm 37:5 “Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.” There is an important difference between asking God to bless our plans and genuinely placing those plans into His hands. Most of us are comfortable praying for a particular outcome. We ask that a decision will…

Isaiah 12:2 “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid; for the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.” There is a quiet progression in Isaiah’s words. He begins with salvation, moves into trust, and arrives eventually at song. That order is important. The…

Psalm 9:10 “And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee; for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.” Trust is much easier when we know the person asking for it. We may accept the word of a lifelong friend because years of experience have taught us something about their…

Nahum 1:7 “The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.” There is something striking about the way Nahum places two realities beside one another: the goodness of God and the existence of trouble. Scripture does not ask us to pretend that difficult days…

Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” Stillness can be surprisingly difficult. We live in a world that encourages immediate response. A message appears and we feel that we should answer it. Something unexpected happens and we begin…

Isaiah 41:13 “For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.” There is something deeply personal in the picture Isaiah gives us. God does not merely promise to watch from a distance or send instructions from somewhere beyond our reach. He says, “I the…