Article November 10, 1997 Issue

Confidence in God, in the face of fear

Mary Ann Livingston

At times we find ourselves confronted with problems that seem too big to handle. We might wish for that I-can-do-anything characteristic of action heroes who always manage to find their way out of impossible situations. In spite of overwhelming odds they remain convinced of their ability to deal with whatever comes along.

We, too, can be confident of our ability to meet challenges—no matter how terrifying they may appear—when we rely wholeheartedly on God.

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble," the Psalmist assures us (Ps. 46:1). David, who wrote a number of the psalms, found God's power more than adequate in many dangerous situations. When he was a shepherd boy, reliance on God's power enabled him to defeat a lion and a bear that threatened his sheep (see I Sam. 17:34-37). Later, when Goliath, the champion of the Philistines, brought the army of Israel to a standstill and the military establishment to its knees, David was unimpressed (see I Sam. 17:32-50). Absolutely confident that God would give him the victory, he faced the terrifying foe, running forward in the name of the Lord God of hosts, and the giant was defeated.

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