When Fear Rises, I Will Trust in Thee

O Lord God Almighty,

I come before Thee in reverence and humility, acknowledging that Thou art God, and there is none like Thee. Thou seest the hidden places of my heart, the thoughts I cannot always name, and the fears I sometimes try to disguise. Yet nothing is secret before Thee. Thou art near to the brokenhearted, faithful to Thy word, and mighty to save.

Father, I confess that fear often visits me without warning. There are moments when my mind runs ahead into uncertainty, when my circumstances speak louder than my courage, and when my heart feels small beneath the weight of what may come. But in the midst of these trembling moments, I choose to cling to Thy promise, for Thy scripture declares in Psalm 56:3-4, “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.” Lord, let these words become not only the reading of my lips, but the steady anchor of my soul.

What time I am afraid—when fear rises early, when it lingers through the day, when it steals rest from the night—teach me to trust in Thee. Not in my own understanding, not in my own strength, not in the shifting assurances of the world, but in Thee alone. Strengthen my will to turn toward Thee in the first instant of fear, not after I have exhausted myself with worry. Train my heart to run to Thee as a child runs to a father, confident not in my own ability, but in Thy faithful care.

“In God I will praise his word,” saith the Psalmist; so, Lord, I lift praise unto Thee. I praise Thee for Thy word that stands when everything else is shaken. I praise Thee that Thy word is true when my feelings are uncertain. I praise Thee that Thy word is a lamp unto my path, even when my path is dim. Help me to praise Thy word not only when I understand it, but also when I must lean upon it without sight. Put in my mouth a song in the night season, that I might worship Thee even in valleys of shadow.

“In God I have put my trust,” and Lord, I declare the same. I place my trust in Thy wisdom over my confusion, in Thy timing over my impatience, in Thy power over my weakness, and in Thy love over my doubts. Where I have trusted in man more than in Thee, forgive me. Where I have trusted in my plans more than in Thy providence, correct me. Where I have trusted in my own control more than in Thy sovereign hand, humble me. Teach me a deeper dependence, that my trust in Thee may be sincere, steady, and whole.

And because Thy word saith, “I will not fear what flesh can do unto me,” I ask Thee to deliver me from the snare of fearing man. Deliver me from intimidation, from rejection, from threats, from the pressure of opinions, from the dread of loss, and from the fear of what others may do or say. Remind me that flesh is limited, but Thou art infinite. Flesh is temporary, but Thou art eternal. Flesh can wound the body, but Thou keepest my soul. Strengthen me to stand with quiet courage, not in pride, but in faith.

Lord, when my heart trembles, be Thou my calm. When my thoughts scatter, gather them into prayer. When my breath shortens with anxiety, fill me with the peace that only Thou canst give. Place Thy hand upon my life and order my steps. Surround me with Thy protection, guide me with Thy counsel, and keep me near to Thee in every season.

Let my life bear witness that trust in Thee is not empty words, but living faith. Let my fears become invitations to draw closer to Thee. Let my trials become testimonies of Thy faithfulness. And let my praise rise continually, for “In God I will praise his word.”

I ask all these things with a heart leaning upon Thy promise, believing that Thou art able to keep that which I commit unto Thee. In the name of the Lord, Amen.

Artwork for Psalms 56:3-4

"What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me." - Psalms 56:3-4

Psalms 56:3

Psalms 56:3 - "What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee."

"What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee." - Psalms 56:3

Psalms 56:5 - "Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil."

Psalms 56:4 - "In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me."

Psalm 56:3-4 - "When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise— in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?"

Psalms 119:56 - "This I had, because I kept thy precepts."

Psalms 78:56 - "Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies:"

Psalms 56:10 - "In God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word."

"In God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word." - Psalms 56:10

Psalms 56:7 - "Shall they escape by iniquity? in thine anger cast down the people, O God."

Psalms 56:8 - "Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?"

Psalms 56:6 - "They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul."

Psalms 56:12 - "Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee."

Psalms 56:9 - "When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me."

Psalms 56:11 - "In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me."

Psalms 56:2 - "Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O thou most High."

Psalms 56:1 - "Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me."

"Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me." - Psalms 56:1

"This I had, because I kept thy precepts." - Psalms 119:56

"In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me." - Psalms 56:11

Isaiah 56:3-5

"Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies:" - Psalms 78:56

"Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil." - Psalms 56:5

"Shall they escape by iniquity? in thine anger cast down the people, O God." - Psalms 56:7

Psalms 56:13 - "For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?"

Psalms 111:3 - "His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever."

"In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me." - Psalms 56:4

Psalms 3:4 - "I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah."