Times of stress can paralyze us

Times of stress can cause us to overreact

Times of stress can make us give in to panic

Fear destroys faith

Don’t panic! And, don’t worry, this is Biblical meditation, not the other stuff… And, anyway… I’m a dog…

1 Samuel 21:1-3 Now David came to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. And Ahimelech was afraid when he met David, and said to him, “Why are you alone, and no one is with you?” So David said to Ahimelech the priest, “The king has ordered me on some business, and said to me, ‘Do not let anyone know anything about the business on which I send you, or what I have commanded you.’ And I have directed my young men to such and such a place. Now therefore, what have you on hand? Give me five loaves of bread in my hand, or whatever can be found.

All the protection David has seen now fades from his thinking and now fear leads David to rely on himself and lie to protect himself.

It is very common in times of stress to allow ourselves to be overcome by fear and turn to ourselves instead of the Lord.

The reality is that we often feel God either can’t or won’t handle some situations.

1 Samuel 21:4-5 And the priest answered David and said, “There is no common bread on hand; but there is holy bread, if the young men have at least kept themselves from women.” Then David answered the priest, and said to him, “Truly, women have been kept from us about three days since I came out. And the vessels of the young men are holy, and the bread is in effect common, even though it was consecrated in the vessel this day.”

Genuine spirituality now gives way to outward religious practice. When fear wins, we may become more concerned about appearing religious than being spiritual.

1 Samuel 21:6-7 So the priest gave him holy bread; for there was no bread there but the showbread which had been taken from before the L ORD, in order to put hot bread in its place on the day when it was taken away. Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the L ORD. And his name was Doeg, an Edomite, the chief of the herdsmen who belonged to Saul.

David’s lack of perception causes him to not notice Doeg’s presence. Trusting others too much can be a big mistake! John 2:24-25

1 Samuel 21:8-9 And David said to Ahimelech, “Is there not here on hand a spear or a sword? For I have brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king’s business required haste.” So the priest said, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the Valley of Elah, there it is, wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you will take that, take it. For there is no other except that one here.” And David said, “There is none like it; give it to me.”

David almost treats Goliath’s sword with awe. What is now so impressive couldn’t save a ten-foot giant from a man with faith, a sling, and a rock.

1 Samuel 21:10-12 Then David arose and fled that day from before Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath. And the servants of Achish said to him, “Is this not David the king of the land? Did they not sing of him to one another in dances, saying: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands’?” Now David took these words to heart, and was very much afraid of Achish the king of Gath.

David now seeks protection from a man whose greatest warrior he defeated and whose armies were not a problem when he walked with God.

Now, that same God is not able to protect David? When our emotions overtake us, it is common to doubt God and rely on our ability to control the situation.

Psalm 56:1-3 For the director of music. To the tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks.” Of David. A miktam. When the Philistines had seized him in Gath. Be merciful to me, my God, for my enemies are in hot pursuit; all day long they press their attack. My adversaries pursue me all day long; in their pride many are attacking me. When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.

Psalm 56:4-7 In God, whose word I praise— in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? All day long they twist my words; all their schemes are for my ruin. They conspire, they lurk, they watch my steps, hoping to take my life. Because of their wickedness do not let them escape; in your anger, God, bring the nations down.

Psalm 56:8-11 Record my misery; list my tears on your scroll— are they not in your record? Then my enemies will turn back when I call for help. By this I will know that God is for me. In God, whose word I praise, in the L ORD, whose word I praise— in God I trust and am not afraid. What can man do to me?

Psalm 56:12-13 I am under vows to you, my God; I will present my thank offerings to you. For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.

1 Samuel 21:13-15 So he changed his behavior before them, pretended madness in their hands, scratched on the doors of the gate, and let his saliva fall down on his beard. Then Achish said to his servants, “Look, you see the man is insane. Why have you brought him to me? Have I need of madmen, that you have brought this fellow to play the madman in my presence? Shall this fellow come into my house?”

The fear in the mightiest warrior in these two nations has reduced him to acting crazy. When our fears control us we often act foolishly.

David played his role well. Achish didn’t even want him around. It is our purpose to live lives that draw people to the only God who can save them.

Fear causes us to not act ourselves.

Psalm 34:1-4 I will extol the L ORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. I will glory in the L ORD ; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the L ORD with me; let us exalt his name together. I sought the L ORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.

Psalm 34:5-7 They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried out, and the L ORD heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the L ORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.

Psalm 34:8-11 Taste and see that the L ORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Fear the L ORD, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the L ORD lack no good thing. Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the L ORD.

Psalm 34:12-16 Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the L ORD are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry; but the face of the L ORD is against those who do evil, to blot out their name from the earth.

Psalm 34:17-20 The righteous cry out, and the L ORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The L ORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. The righteous person may have many troubles, but the L ORD delivers him from them all; he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.

Psalm 34:21-22 Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned. The L ORD will rescue his servants; no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.

Even otherwise spiritual people fall into periods of inconsistency.

Psalm 34 indicates David got his focus back again he began to recover. That’s true with us, too.

1 Peter 3:10-12 For “He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the L ORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the L ORD is against those who do evil.”

God’s open eyes = Our protection God’s open ears = Our provision

In times of stress, we often allow ourselves to be over come by fear. When fear grips us, we rely on ourselves instead of the Lord. When fear grips us, we don’t believe God is willing or able to help.

Rather than face our fears, we often still want to appear religious to others. Fear causes us to lose spiritual perception. Fear causes us to act foolishly. Fear causes us to not act like ourselves.

Even people who are otherwise spiritual fall into periods of carnality and inconsistency. When we get our spiritual focus back, we begin to heal.

Some steps to take

Steps to take when afraid – Mk. 6; Mt. 14; Jn. 6 We will never trust a God we do not consider trustworthy He is almighty – Lk. 1:37 He cares about the smallest details of our lives – Mt. 10:30-31 He wants to give us what He deems good – Mt. 7:7- 11

Steps to take when afraid – Mk. 6; Mt. 14; Jn. 6 Remember: If you are in the will of God, Jesus has you there Mk. 6:45 Jesus is praying for you Mt. 14:33 Jesus sees your struggle Mk. 6:48 (3-4 miles, dark) Jesus will come to you Mk. 6:48

Steps to take when afraid – Mk. 6; Mt. 14; Jn. 6 Jesus can use the problem to come to you in a unique way 6:48 “walking on the sea” (problem). He used the thing scaring them to show Himself in a new way to them. He speaks the word before He solves the problem Mk. 6:50 Ps. 56!

Steps to take when afraid – Mk. 6; Mt. 14; Jn. 6 We’re ok as long as we’re looking at Jesus, but when circumstances take over, so does fear. When you change your focus you change your stability Mt. 14:29-30 God specializes in impossible situations 6:52 God can supernaturally take you where you need to go John 6:21

Steps to take when afraid – Mk. 6; Mt. 14; Jn. 6 Turn you eyes upon Jesus; He wants you to discover who He is Mt. 14:33 “Worshipped Him” Byron and Linda’s prayer “Give them grace”

Fear destroys faith. Faith destroys fear.