Fear Not

DAILY READING

Psalm 3

FIELD NOTES

In this psalm, David is crying out to God while fleeing from his rebellious son, Absalom. Absalom had marched into Jerusalem to claim the throne for himself and forced his own father, David, to run for his life.

It is worth noting that while David was literally fleeing for his life, his focus was to take refuge in God. He trusted that God would watch over and protect him even in the face of such an overwhelming situation. As we read in verse 3, “But you, O Lord, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.” David was comforted by God and even slept knowing the Lord would sustain him. 

When things don’t go as we plan, it is tempting to feel overwhelmed, give up and feel that God has abandoned us or is against us. Today’s reading is a reminder that while things may not go as planned, God is still with us. Seek God in your moment of need. Don’t fall into the trap of believing that God has abandoned you, or place your hope in temporal things. We have seen so many instances of man-made systems and material objects fall or fail. Through it all, we can take comfort in the Lord and place our faith and hope in God alone. 

QUESTIONS FOR THE FIELD

• When you feel overwhelmed or under attack, where do you first seek refuge? Where do you place your hope in moments of need? Does your faith sustain you in difficult times?

FAMILY FIELD TALK

• Reflect on a time when you felt overwhelmed and had nowhere to go or no one you could turn to. Where do you place your faith? Where do you place your hope?

PRAYER GUIDE

Gracious God, we thank you that in our moments of desperation and fear, your steady hand is always with us. As you lead us to wonderful and exciting new beginnings, even when all feels hopeless, we pray for encouragement and hope through your love and the love we receive from others on this journey.