The Bible is filled with promises that God will provide for us. Isaiah 40:31 says, “but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” While we know that Scripture is filled with incredible promises that God will provide, deliver and even activate miracle power in our life, what often gets in the way of us trusting His promises is our own eternal battles. While God calls us every single day to not be afraid, to simply trust Him in everything can be difficult. The Christian life is a constant battle between fear and trust; anxiety and trust, and doubt and confidence. When we chronically worry, we get so lost in what we think will happen that we lose sight of our reality. We can find hope when we trust in God’s promises. Here are six keys to activating those promises in your life.
Be Confident That God is Near You
It’s hard to recognize that God is always around us because we can’t physically see Him, but trusting that He is near is one of God’s greatest promises. Psalm 27:1 says, “The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?” Like many psalms, this was written from a season of trouble. Yet, it is a song of confidence and triumph because David was not in darkness or ultimate peril because the Lord was his light and salvation. God Himself brought light to David’s life. He did not despair in darkness and all that it represented. His life was filled with the Lord, and his life was filled with the light. The same can be applied to our lives. When you’re worried, remember that the Lord is the stronghold of your life. Only when we you recognize this can you truly be filled with light.
Allow God to Hold You in His Hand
Even when we don’t know it, God is carrying us in the palm of His hand. Isaiah 41:10 says, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Sometimes, we can read certain verses from Scripture a hundred times and fail to take them to heart the way the Lord wants us to. Other times, we can linger on a verse or two, and let them minister life, healing and comfort to us. Isaiah 41:10 is so rich with the promises of God that it warrants special attention from us. Ultimately, the Lord wants to impart to us through this verse that we shouldn’t be afraid. “Fear not [there is nothing to fear].” One reason why God warns us against fear is that it can short-circuit the answered prayers and blessings that He has in store for us. When you are anxious, hold onto the promise that God is upholding you in His righteous hand.
Trust That God is With You Wherever You Go
God is always with us, even when we can’t see Him or hear His voice directly. Joshua 1:9 says, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” There are three times in Joshua 1 that God tells Joshua to be strong and to be courageous because he’ll need to be ready for what’s coming later. God also commands that he not be frightened or dismayed and for one reason only; “the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” If you are going into a particularly unsettling situation, have comfort in the fact that God is with you wherever you go.
Allow God to Be Your Refuge
While we know that we can turn to God, too often we forget that God is always right there in our corner. Psalm 46:1 reminds us that, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” By definition, a refuge is a safe place. When the Bible describes God as our refuge, it is saying that God is our safe place when we need protection from something. Knowing God is our refuge enables us to trust Him more freely. We need not fear situations or people who threaten our well-being, whether in a physical or spiritual sense. There is no situation we will ever face that is out of God’s control, so the best place to be is right with Him.
Remember That the Peace of God Passes All Understanding
We know from Scripture that the peace of God passes all understanding. Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” This is a wonderful promise. The believer who places his or her full confidence in a loving God and is thankful in every circumstance will possess a supernatural peace. An inner calm will dominate the heart. The faithful believer will know peace – his heart and mind are guarded by it. No one, especially those outside of Christ, will be able to fathom that peace. The most, it will remain a mystery how someone can be so serene in the midst of turmoil. Hold onto the promise that God’s supernatural peace surpasses all natural understanding.
Allow God to Take Care of Things
God promises that He will take care of our lives. Luke 12:22-26 says, “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?” What is so great about these verses is that it reminds us that we shouldn’t worry because God will take care of the big stuff and the little stuff. Worrying doesn’t change things, big or small, except to make those problems appear worse than they really are. Don’t get hung up on the big things. Cast your cares on God and then trust in His wisdom.
Anxiety and fear often pull us away from God. There’s nothing the devil loves to see more than us shifting away from our Heavenly Father. Yet, we have the power to overcome our anxieties and fears by trusting in God’s promises. When we know that God can bring us through all circumstances, we can find peace. Cast your anxieties on God and let Him do the rest.
