There’s something oddly comforting about David’s honesty in Psalm 56:3: “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” He doesn’t pretend he’s fearless, and he doesn’t make it sound like trusting God erases fear instantly. Instead, he treats fear as a cue—a reminder to shift his focus. In other words, fear isn’t a sign he’s failing; it’s a nudge to lean harder on the One who won’t let him fall.
Life hands out fears like candy—unexpected bills, doctor’s calls, strained relationships, even the “what if” thoughts that creep in during the quiet. Fear shows up uninvited and tends to overstay its welcome. But David’s approach is refreshingly simple: he names the fear, then hands it to God. Not later, not when things settle down, but right then. It’s less about removing the fear and more about refusing to let it run the show.
It’s easy to think trust means feeling serene and unshakable, but trust is really more like grabbing God’s hand while the storm is still howling. It’s whispering “I still believe You’re good” when the heart is pounding. Over time, that hand-holding trust changes a person. Fear still knocks, but it doesn’t get the final say. The more someone practices it, the faster they trade panic for peace.
The truth is that courage isn’t the absence of fear, it’s deciding who gets to lead when fear is present. David knew who to follow. And when fear tries to hijack our joy, we can know too. Fear is loud, but God’s presence is louder. Sometimes the bravest thing anyone can do is keep showing up, fear in one hand and trust in the other.
Reflection: What’s one fear that’s been bossing you around lately? This week, each time it tries to take over, pause and pray, “God, I’m putting this in Your hands.” See how many times you can swap fear for trust before the week is done.