Pleasing God, Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

When I Am Afraid – Part 1

56  Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me;
all day long an attacker oppresses me;
2 my enemies trample on me all day long,
for many attack me proudly.
3 When I am afraid,
I put my trust in you.
4 In God, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.
What can flesh do to me?
5 All day long they injure my cause;
all their thoughts are against me for evil.
6 They stir up strife, they lurk;
they watch my steps,
as they have waited for my life.
7 For their crime will they escape?
In wrath cast down the peoples, O God!
8 You have kept count of my tossings;
put my tears in your bottle.
Are they not in your book?
9 Then my enemies will turn back
in the day when I call.
This I know, that[d] God is for me.
10 In God, whose word I praise,
in the Lord, whose word I praise,
11 in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.
What can man do to me?
12 I must perform my vows to you, O God;
I will render thank offerings to you.
13 For you have delivered my soul from death,
yes, my feet from falling,
that I may walk before God
in the light of life.   Psalm 56

A.  Being Afraid:  Its Present Realities

1.  What are the causes?:  Psalm 56:1-2, Psalm 56:6-7

–  Our fallen nature

–  Our seen circumstances:  Numbers 13:30-33

–  Our neglect of fellowship with the Lord:  Daniel 11:32

2.  What are the effects?

–  Sleepless nights:  Psalm 56:8

–  Emotional upheaval:  Psalm 56:8, Psalm 6:6-7, Heb. 5:7

B.  Being Afraid:  Faith Confronts and Conquers Fear

1.  Faith Exercised: The rational nature of faith in God: Psalm 56:4, 11, Psalm 42:5, 11

2.  Faith Exercised:  The assurance God is our God: Psalm 56:4, 11, 13; 2 Cor. 1:8-10

3.  Faith Exercised:  The sufficiency of God’s Word: Psalm 56:4, 10; Isaiah 55:10-11

4.  Faith Exercised:  The conquering power of praise: Psalm 56:4, 10, 12; Habakkuk 3:17-19