Psalms in the Key of Life Series
Two of my favorite movies are Coach Carter and Akeelah and the Bee. Both movies have one central theme—facing your fears. In Coach Carter, an intercity basketball team faces the fear of success—rising from familiar, comfortable losing seasons to qualifying for the difficult state tournament. To them winning was a scary thing. In Akeelah and the Bee, an 11-year-old girl from South Central, L.A., faces the fear of competing in a national spelling bee. She believes she is not good enough. The common quote laced in these two films and in the 1994 inauguration speech of Nelson Mandela—the first black president of formerly segregated nation—is this poem by Marianne Williamson:
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous?"
What is your greatest fear? Is it loneliness, death, or living next to someone different from you? Or is it, in fact, something far greater: the light that is in you, the light that calls you to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Did Marinne Williamson hit it on the head, that it is the light of our greatness that we all fear. Marianne is not the first writer to associate light and fear. The psalmist David did in his prayer poem—Psalm 27.
In my bible study series—Psalms in the Key of Life—we will look at 12 principles (in two parts) to help you to face the life issue of fear. An underachieving inner basketball team did. A little black girl with an attitude did. So did King David as he was pursued by King Saul. And so must you face your greatest fear—your greatness.
Twelve Principles to help you face your fears: Part 1
Principle 1: Trust the Light, the Lord, because God is the source of guidance, deliverance, and strength.
The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1
We all will go through periods of darkness, times of terrible fears—valleys as described in Psalm 23—but we need not go through them alone or unequipped to face them. God is with you and His Light-attributes are available to us. You are stronger than you think when you think about whose saving strength is with you—God. Who can out strong-arm the biceps of the Lord.
Principle 2: Your past victories are evidence that the Lord is stronger than your human frailties—your flesh.
When the wicked, even mine enemies/ foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Psalm 27:2
We all have issues, weaknesses, that our enemies—chief among them, Satan— have been used as weapons to try to trip us. They may be still be afflicting you now. Remember, however, who delivered you in those past battles of immaturity, addictions, and prideful judgments that hurt others. At every turn, God delivered you and moved you to a better place. That same God is operating today.
Principle 3: Look confidently inside when you look ahead.
Though an army host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. Psalm 27:3
Though surrounding circumstances may look formidable, look within. Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world according to 1 John 4:4. Remember whose you are. No weapon formed against you shall prosper according to Isaiah 54:17. Your confidence to overcome your fears will come from your faith in His promises regarding your seemingly hopeless situations.
Principle 4. Hide out in the Lord’s place. Sit. Don’t be superman.
4 One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. 5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion. Psalm 4,5
God’s church—the body of Christ, the fellowship of believers—is a refuge designed to be a place of encouragement in times of trouble and revelation through His faithfully preached word in period of panic. You can’t overcome fears alone. This is no time to abandon the vessel provided by God when the waves are rocking your boat. As Jack encouraged Rose in the movie Titanic, “Don’t give up.” In a word, he is saying, “Get in the boat, Rose.” God is saying through David in verse 4 and 5 to you in times of fear. “Get in the right boat.”
Principle 6: Praise, don’t panic in the face of fear.
6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore, will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD. Psalm 27:6
Your words are important in times of trouble. Don’t speak the problem more than you proclaim the solution. Sing praises to the Lord as Paul and Silas did at midnight as they were chained in a prison cell. And according to Acts 16:26: “At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.” If you want to get loosed from your fears, get your praise on.
Next week: Six more principles from Psalm 27 to face your deepest fears, even the fear of your own greatness. Until then, commit in writing how you will apply what you have learned today about present fear.
Don’t worry. It’s going to be OK.
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