Great Smoky National Park (Courtesy of Aaron Clark)

“Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.”
Psalm 56:3 NKJV

It was hard to force air into my lungs. As I stared down at the slippery rocks in the mountain stream, I thought of all the ways my steps could go wrong, and I chided myself for ever venturing into the water. Tightly gripping my husband’s hand, I methodically placed my foot in his evaporating footprint. But with the victory of reaching the other side of the stream in sight, I started to slip. Panic erupted inside my mind as my body wobbled, rocked, and swayed.

My husband’s calm voice broke through the chaos. “Honey, just fall on me. Just fall on me.” Within the span of those one or two seconds, questions swirled. What if he can’t catch me? What if I get hurt? What if my falling hurts him too?

Just then, I glimpsed his confident brown eyes––and knew I could trust him. I simply had to fall and let whatever was going to happen, happen. So I did.

We both went down.

But my husband anticipated what was happening, and he knew how to safely fall. He provided a buffer for me and was able to protect himself at the same time. Although we got wet, both of us were fine. Neither of us even developed a bruise.

Recently, I read King David’s refrain: Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. In Psalm 56, King David was sliding in fear as his enemy chased, slandered, and hunted him. He was honest about his fear and admitted it to the Lord, but David did not camp there. He turned his eyes to––and confessed his faith in––Almighty God. His choice reminds me that when I am afraid, I can both trust the Lord and honestly face the fear.

I remember the terror of the moment when I slipped in the mountain stream. It is the same dread I often feel when life gets out of control. And though I’ve never experienced an army of men hunting me down like David, I’m familiar with fear all the same. Whether it comes from days, months, and years of chronic illness, financial hardship, relational struggles, or uncertainties about the future, fear is never far away.

Thankfully, just as my husband braced my fall and protected me, God has always done the same. I gaze back on the hard times and declare, like David, In God (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. ~ Ps. 56:4a NKJV

Sometimes we step into slippery places in life, lose our footing, become rattled, and find ourselves filled with fear. We may even fall. But we have a merciful and gracious Father who is always with us. He leads us, guides us, and loves us. We can lean on Him––fall on Him––and we can trust Him to catch us.

Prayer

Lord, when the world around me is falling apart, I become filled with fear. Help me remember You are with me. Fill me with faith to believe that I can safely fall on You, and trust that You will catch me. Thank You for Your faithfulness. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

This article was first published at Calla Press. Click here to read it at Calla Press.