Without Dread

“But whoso hearkens to me [Wisdom] shall dwell securely and in confident trust and shall be quiet,

without fear or dread of evil.”

Proverbs 1:33 AMP

I went on and on, testing my husband’s patience and getting myself all upset. Then, when I found out the details I discovered God had gone before me. There was nothing to fear.

I hate to watch the news. Everywhere you turn there is death, turmoil, insecurity, and danger. Keeping a right perspective is difficult. Reacting rather than praying and trusting is a natural reaction, but not a necessary one.

When I think of all the time I have spent worrying and trying to make certain things were worked out the way I thought they should be, it is appalling. All that time and energy which could have been put to good use was wasted because God was going before me. He knows what will happen and He knows what I will need, and His arrangements are always better than what I had in mind.

Time on my knees is more valuable than time on the phone or time fretting. All the peace and security I long for is already there for me, if I quiet my heart and trust in the Lord. When I found out the details of the situation, I also found out I did not need to worry myself or vex my husband, I only needed to pray and wait on God to work it out. I have to learn that lesson over and over again.

People often wonder why I spend so much time writing devotionals, leading Bible studies year after year, searching the scriptures for wisdom—without it I lose my anchor. I have nothing to ground me and keep me where I need to be. I wander away so quickly if I am not careful to hide God’s word in my heart and ask Him first before I react.

My dad was one of the godliest and wisest men I will ever know. As I read his Bible following his death I could see why. He read a chapter of Proverbs every day. He knew it so well that it spilled over into everything he did, whether it was fulfilling some office at church, dealing with a client in his insurance business, or guiding his children with wise words.

Solomon wrote that if we listen to God we will be without fear and full of confident trust. That’s the way I want to live.