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Bible verse: “I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4, King James Version

Bible reading: 1 Samuel 21:10-15; Proverbs 3:5-6; Psalm 34

The enemy is in pursuit, right behind her. She is running, running as fast as she can. Suddenly the enemy disappears, and she doesn’t know which way to run. She changes course and takes off running again. I see it coming. I want to warn her. I jump to my feet yelling at the character in my book… but it’s too late. She just ran right into the enemy’s arms.

Have you ever had this experience when you’re reading a suspense novel or watching a movie? The character runs up the stairs or corners themselves in a closet and then seems shocked when the enemy has them trapped. But you know what is happening. You know where the enemy is, and you can’t stop it.

In 1 Samuel 21, David is in a bad situation. King Saul wants him dead. And suddenly, the man after God’s own heart panics, tries to control the situation himself, and runs headlong straight into enemy territory. Every time I read this story, I have trouble understanding why he thought this was a good choice. But then, how often have I done the same? Just a few months ago, I became plagued by fear, and instead of trusting God and stepping in faith, I quit. I decided if I wasn’t moving, I couldn’t make a mistake. I had run straight into the arms of the enemy, who had me trapped in his clutches of paralysis, where God’s purpose in my life had come to a halt.

And yet, as David reflects on his experience in Psalm 34, when we fail to trust, God is still faithful to come to our rescue. David writes, “I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” (Psalm 34:4, King James Version).

Friend, before we take off running and find ourselves in enemy territory, let us recall and adhere to the command in Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (KJV). After all, in the maze of life, only He has the bird’s-eye view.