Life often confronts us with fear. Young people worry about the future, will they be able to find a job amidst fierce competition? Parents are afraid of not being able to provide for their families amidst soaring prices. Some people are overwhelmed with anxiety over unstable political conditions, or worry about the future of the nation. Fear can make us paralyzed, lose direction, and even lose confidence. But Psalm 56 testifies that fear is real, but true faith enables us to face it.

The psalmist did not mask his fear. He felt attacked, oppressed, and his life targeted by the enemy (verse 2 & 7). This describes the human condition when living under pressure. Interestingly, the psalmist did not wait until the fear was gone to believe. Instead, in the midst of fear he said, "When I am afraid, I trust in you" (verse 4). Faith here is not a sudden burst of courage, but a decision to rely on God even when the heart is still trembling.

Fear is the body's natural response to threats; in fact, fear is part of human existence. But it is precisely that fear that leads us to a leap of faith. The psalmist has proven it, his tears are believed to not go unnoticed by God (verse 9). This means that faith does not erase fear, but rather turns it into a path to a deep relationship with God.

Friends of the Bible, Psalm 56 confirms that faith is not waiting until fear is gone, but rather daring to say, "I believe" when fear still rules the heart. It is faith that helps us fight fear, not by closing our eyes to reality, but by opening our hearts to the sustaining God. So when fear comes, whether about work, family, health, or the future, don't let it paralyze us. Let faith be the power that moves our steps. For faith is not only about trusting God in times of peace, but especially about daring to lean on Him in the midst of waves. In faith, we find that every tear we shed is recorded, every step we take is guarded, and every fear we have is transformed into hope.