What Can Flesh Do To Me

Fear is not the opposite of faith; it is often its starting point. The psalmist is in a desperate situation, captured by his enemies in a foreign land. He does not deny his reality or suppress his feelings. He begins with a stark admission: “When I am afraid” (Psalm 56:3). This honesty is crucial. He acknowledges the fear that threatens to overwhelm him. But the fear does not get the final word. It becomes the very trigger for his faith. His response is a deliberate action: “I put my trust in you.” This is a choice, a pivot from his circumstances to his God. He then reinforces this declaration by focusing on the foundation of his trust: God’s word. He says, “In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust” (Psalm 56:4). His confidence is not in his own strength or in a sudden change of fortune, but in the reliable and powerful promises of God. This shift in focus leads to a shift in perspective. He can now look at his human enemies and ask, “What can flesh do to me?” He recognizes that mortal power, however frightening, is ultimately limited when compared to the sovereign God he serves.

God is not surprised by your fear. He does not expect you to be a stoic, emotionless soldier who never feels a tremor of anxiety. Look at the psalmist’s honesty. He felt fear, he named it, and then he knew exactly where to take it. He brought it directly into the presence of God. Your fear, whatever it is about today, is an invitation from your Heavenly Father. It is an invitation to declare your dependence on Him. Your trust is not built on your feelings, which can change in a moment. Your trust is built on the unchanging character of God and the solid promises in His word. He has proven Himself faithful time and time again. The cross of Christ is the ultimate evidence that God is for you. If He did not spare His own Son to save you, can you not trust Him with this present trouble? So when fear knocks on the door of your heart, you do not have to answer it alone. You can turn immediately to your Father and echo the psalmist’s words: “I am afraid, but I put my trust in You.” What specific fear can you hand over to Him right now, choosing to believe His word over your worry?

Today, when fear arises, let it be your signal to praise God for His word, rather than a signal to panic.

Father, I admit that I am afraid today. Instead of hiding this fear, I bring it to you and choose to place my trust in your faithful word. Remind me that nothing can separate me from your love in Christ. Amen.

This psalm’s title, 'The Dove on Far-off Terebinths,' is likely the name of a well-known tune to which these words were sung, a common practice for ancient Hebrew hymns.