FEAR

When Trouble Comes

In the comic strip Peanuts, Lucy had just broken the news to Linus that children cannot live at home forever. Eventually they grow up and move away. Then she said that when he left she would get his room. But Linus quickly reminded her that at some time she too, would have to leave home. When this realization hit Lucy, she was shocked. But she said she had a solution. She would turn the TV up loud, crawl into her beanbag chair with a bowl of ice cream, and refuse to think about it.

Avoiding unpleasant circumstances is not as easy or desirable as Lucy thinks. Life's realities cannot be successfully avoided. We may try to run and hide, but we will find that the struggles and trials have a way of dogging our footsteps and eventually catching up with us. Therefore, we should face up to our problems.

The psalmist David did this when set upon by deadly foes and false friends. He didn't try to minimize his danger by adopting a don't-think-about-it philosophy. Instead, he acknowledged the storm that was raging around him and looked to the Lord. He wrote, "In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?" (Ps 56:4).

When he did, he was led into a place of calm.

Let's follow the example of the psalmist - not that of Lucy. It is true; facing up to the difficulties of life may be a frightening experience. But our fear may be the very means God uses to draw us into His arms. When this happens, we will experience real deliverance from the harsh realities of life. Remember, when troubles call on you, you call on God.