Psalms 56:3. "What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee." Trust is the biblical alternative to fear. The question is often asked, "How does one trust the Lord in times of great difficulty or sorrow?"

Psalm 37:3-7 gives us a very clear picture of how to do so. We trust God when we take the gift of salvation freely offered and rejoice in Jesus alone. We further demonstrate ongoing trust as we unleash our life to His sovereign care and settle back into a life of obedience to God's Word and service to others. As we continue to respond to God's Word on a daily basis by becoming more like the Lord Jesus Christ, we wait patiently on His working out all the details of our lives for His eternal glory and our eternal good.

If we spell TRUST in an acrostic and look at the action words given in that passage, we can understand how to please God by trusting Him.

Trust in the Lord  (vs 3)                      T Take the gift of salvation
Delight in the Lord (vs 4)                    R Rejoice wholly in Jesus alone
Commit way unto the Lord (vs5)         U Unleash your life to the sovereign plan of God
Rest in the Lord (vs 7)                         S Sacrificial submission to God and Sacrificial service to men
Wait patiently on the Lord (vs7)           T Total responsibility for results left with God

God has every right, and my permission, to rearrange my life at any time...in any way, in order to fulfill His plan for its influence, to His glory.

                                                         (C) 1984, 1997, 1999 N.A. Collins
                                               Meditations on God's Word in Times of Trial
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We hear much today about this issue of fear. Where did it originate?

It was seen initially in the garden of Eden following the rebellion of man,which fractured man's intimate relationship with the God of Heaven Who had made man for Himself. When God asked them why they had taken the visible action of running away and attempting to hide from Him, their clear response revealed their motivation to be that of fear.

But, one may ask, what precipitated that first recorded emotion of fear? We know, from reading Genesis 3, that disobedience produced fear, and fear produced further actions of disobedient attempts to distance themselves from His very Presence. They found, as do we, that there is nowhere to hide from God, and thus, we need to see fear as a secondary issue to the primary area of need.

Fear, like the wind, is an unseen factor, but we easily can see its visible illustration in our attitudes, behaviors, and communications. It would often appear to be the "root" of unbiblical " fruit" in our lives. Sometimes we are afraid of not pleasing people, or losing face in the opinions that others have of us. Often, it may be a fear of the unknown future that lies ahead, especially in times of poor health or economic crisis.

But, the real question is, what is the deeper heart problem that precipitates the fear? The answer is seen, as discussed in Genesis 3, in that when we resist the divine design of God for our lives,the unbiblical response of fear is experienced. Subsequently, there are definable and visible actions as a result.

What is the solution?   2 Timothy 1:7 teaches us:

                                          For God hath not given us the spirit of fear;
                                       but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

In salvation, by grace, through faith, God displaces fear with the authority and responsibility to both please Him and profit others (Matt. 22:37-39). He provides perfect peace and stability of mind, as we keep our mind stayed on Him (Isa.26:3).

Thereafter, the fear of men is of no importance, since when a man's ways please the Lord, even His enemies are at peace with him (Prov. 16:7). The fear of the unknown future fades as we remember that our times are in His hands (Psa. 31:15). Even the fear of death loses its sting in recognition that Psalms 17:15 teaches that I will behold His face in righteousness, and I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with His likeness. Psalms 16:11 promises me that in His presence is fullness of joy.

As a child of God, failing to focus on God's promises will always bring human fear. Therefore, as the psalmist declared in Psa. 56:3, "What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee". May God help us today to recognize fear as the indicator for us to recognize our wrong perspective, respond to His limitless mercy and grace, and refocus on His promises to us!

(C) 1993, 2005 N.A.Collins. Copy permission for one personal file copy

"What saith the Scripture?" I don't believe there is any single area of the typical believers life that has any greater lack of consistent use than the one that is addressed in the question title of this article.

It is a question posed in both Romans 4 and Galatians 4 and has relevance to every single thought, action, and word in which we engage on a daily basis. It is the essential assessment question to be asked at every turn in our lives. Anything received by our senses of touching, feeling, hearing or smelling will elicit a subsequent response in our thinking, our actions or our speech.

Since all the issues of life are rooted in the heart, according to Proverbs 4:23, our assessment of those responses must be on the basis of Scripture, not on the basis of history (what my family did), habit (what I've always done),? Or happiness (what makes me feel good).

"What saith the Scripture?" Is that a question that we often deal with ourselves, or discuss with others over a meal, or teach our children in the faith, or instruct those over whom God has given us responsibility? When we ask ourselves that question, we will readily see whether our responses are righteous ones of the Spirit, or sinful ones of the flesh, in the light of God's revelation to us - His inerrant, infallible, immutable, eternal Word. Biblical assessment can be quickly made by whether we are righteously allowing the what the Scripture says (Spirit) to override human desires (flesh); or conversely, whether we are sinfully allowing human desire (flesh) to override what the Scripture says (Spirit).

While we may conceptually recognize sin vs. righteousness, there is a critical need to develop the Christian discipline of specifically knowing God's Word both academically and applicationally. This is accomplished by reading, studying, meditating, praying and then applying the written Word of God. Hebrews 4:12 is incredibly clear in the function of the Scriptures, "for the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two- edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." God, by His Spirit, will use His Word to accomplish His glory in their lives.

May God help each of us to increasingly know and use the Word of God!

(C) 1993, 2005 N.A.Collins. Copy permission for one personal file copy