Deciding Ahead of Time

Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. Psalm 56:3 (New King James Version)

Soldiers do not enter a war without a military strategy. A football player does not enter a game without a game plan. A surgeon does not proceed with an operation without a predetermined medical procedure in mind. A construction worker does not begin to build a building without an architectural plan. And we had better understand that we do not enter a single day without a plan. We do not know the totality of what will be in this day but we can determine ahead of time certain game plans for it. David is sharing one such plan with us today. Ahead of time, he already determined his course of action when fear would hit. He would trust in God.

This morning I want to take his strategy and apply it to all areas of negative responses and emotions. Each and every one can be slipped into this verse with the same predetermined action! Whenever I am afraid, angry, confused, disappointed, hurt, stressed, worried, weak, offended, or in turmoil, I will trust in God. Trusting God means I am placing my confidence, security, and belief in Him. How He must delight when we do that! To start our day with the attitude that, come what may, we are trusting Him! Then when the storms of life hit, the winds of adversity blow, the valley of death approaches, or any number of rugs get pulled out from under us, we already know what we will do. Above and through it all we will trust Him and place ourselves in a position to receive His strength, peace, and safety.

Many of us had to learn the hard way that living the Christian life did not mean we would not have trials and troubles. We definitely will have them, but God desires to teach us where to go when those things arise. If we allow them, they become the arrows that point us straight to Him as our source and resource in the midst of any tragedy. But we cannot wait until we are in the middle of an upsetting moment to figure out what we are going to do. Before the storm hits we should determine where our shelter will be. That is the essence of what David was saying. He knew fear would be his companion at one time or another and he resolved ahead of time to trust God. Each of us knows which emotional challenges become issues for us. Let’s place them in this verse and then place our trust in God.

Father, I have so often floundered with negative feelings and emotions, when all the while You were urging me to trust You. Bring this verse to my mind throughout today. No matter which word I put in it, I have already decided I will trust You! Amen.