panic – Moment to Moment (Bible blog)

The contrast between Paul and the sailors couldn’t be more drastic in this story.

The sailors were panicking, running all around trying everything possible to save themselves. The result? Despair.

Paul, on the other hand, heard God’s words of encouragement and remained calm. And he told the sailors,

So take courage, men, because I believe God that it will be just the way it was told to me. (Acts 27:25)

When life’s storms hit, (and they will hit), how do you respond? With panic?

Or do you trust God that he will do as he has promised? That even if we must walk through the valley of death, he will be with us?

And if he will do that for us, how much more will he help us overcome any other problem we may face in life?

Refusing to give in to fear

Psalm 11 reminds me somewhat of what happened to Nehemiah.

In an attempt to get the Jews to stop their work on the walls, their enemies bribed a priest to make Nehemiah think his life was in danger and to get him to hide in the temple. But Nehemiah said,

Should a man like me run away? Or should someone like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go! (Nehemiah 6:11)

In the same way, David wrote,

In the Lord I take refuge.

How then can you say to me:
“Flee like a bird to your mountain.

For look, the wicked bend their bows;
they set their arrows against the strings
to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart.

When the foundations are being destroyed,
what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:1–3)

David and Nehemiah had one thing in common. They refused to give in to fear. Rather, they put their trust in the Lord.

People would have had them panic, saying, “Everything is falling apart! What are we going to do?”

But they stood firm, and would not be moved. David wrote about the confidence he had, saying,

The Lord is in his holy temple;
the Lord is on his heavenly throne.

He observes everyone on earth;
his eyes examine them.

The Lord examines the righteous,
but the wicked, those who love violence,
he hates with a passion. (4–5)

In other words, “God is here. He sees what’s going on. He’s in control. He is watching over me, and he will deal with those who would do me harm.”

Then he finishes by saying,

For the Lord is righteous, he loves justice; the upright will see his face. (7)

How about you? Do you have a similar confidence in the Lord? When the world around you seems to be falling apart, do you give in to panic?

Or have you made the Lord your refuge? Have you put your complete trust in him, knowing that he has his hand on you even if you can’t see it?

As Isaiah wrote,

In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength. (Isaiah 30:15)

Let us not be like the Israelites who gave into their fear.

Let us instead be like Nehemiah and David who put their full trust in the Lord who is faithful.