Facing Fear: Learning from Psalm 3

Life is filled with challenges that stir up fear. From uncertainties in our personal lives to external struggles, fear is an emotion we all experience and can't avoid. But what if we could pray through our fear rather than ignoring it or being consumed by it?

Psalm 3, a prayer of David when he was fleeing from his son Absalom, offers profound insight into how we can process fear in the presence of God. In this psalm, David expresses both the reality of his circumstances and the deep trust he has in God's protection.

"O Lord, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! Many are saying of me, ‘God will not deliver him.’ But You, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high.” – Psalm 3:1-3

David had every reason to be afraid—his own son was leading a rebellion against him. Hunted, betrayed, and forced to flee for his life, fear wasn’t just a passing emotion; it was his reality. Yet, David doesn’t suppress his fear or let it control him. Instead, he brings it before God in prayer.

A Biblical Approach to Fear

We often handle fear in two unhealthy ways. Some of us try to stuff our emotions, ignoring them in an attempt to maintain control. Others allow fear to overwhelm them, giving it power over their decisions and outlook on life. The Psalms, however, offer a powerful alternative. They invite us to bring our raw, unfiltered emotions before God, and not in perfectly crafted prayers, but in honest, unrestrained cries for help.

This is one of the reasons the Psalms are so powerful. They remind us that God doesn’t ask us to hide our fear or deny our struggles. Instead, like David, we can lay everything before Him, trusting that in His presence, fear loses its grip, and peace takes its place.

The Two Levels of Fear

Psalm 3 reveals that fear often operates on two levels:

1. External Fear – The immediate danger David faced was physical. Afterall, a whole army was coming after him. He was being pursued and threatened.

   
   

2. Internal Fear – The deeper fear David experienced was about his identity and calling. People were saying, "God will not deliver him." They questioned his role as king, his worthiness, and whether God was still with him. Similarly, even when our anger is justified, we need to handle our fears carefully. Feelings themselves are not sinful, but they can quickly become sin when left unchecked. Just as hatred is anger gone bad and bitterness is unresolved anger that poisons the soul, fear left unchecked can grow into doubt and despair, crippling our faith and perspective.

For many of us, this second kind of fear is the most debilitating. It’s not just about external threats but about the internal anxieties we carry: the fear of failure, rejection, or not being enough.

Moving Through Fear with Faith

Moving Forward

"But You, Lord, are a shield around me." (Psalm 3:3)

David doesn’t say, “You are a shield that keeps me from danger.” Instead, he acknowledges that God is a shield around him. This is a significant distinction. God’s protection doesn’t mean we’ll avoid hardship; it means He will sustain us through it.

Like a soldier advancing behind a shield, David moves forward despite his fear. He recognizes that retreating or running from God’s call would leave him more vulnerable. The safest place to be is in obedience to God, even when it feels like the most dangerous path.

But if obedience is the safest place, then disobedience is the most dangerous. When we step outside of God's will (choosing fear, compromise, or self-reliance over trust in Him), we remove ourselves from His covering. The consequences of disobedience aren’t just discomfort; they are destructive. Proverbs 14:12 warns, "There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death." Just as David knew his only hope was in staying within God's will, we too must recognize that walking away from God’s guidance leaves us exposed, unprotected, and vulnerable to the very things we fear most.

God’s shield is not for those who turn back; it is for those who trust Him enough to move forward.

Relocate Our Glory

"You are my glory, the One who lifts my head high." (Psalm 3:3)

David comes to recognize that his fear is deeply connected to where he has placed his security. He had built his identity on his kingship, the approval of the people, and his past successes. But now, all of that had been stripped away. If he had remained reliant on those things alone for his sense of worth, he would have been utterly crushed.

Instead, David shifts his focus and relocates his glory to God, rather than himself. His current situation was not random. He had once gloried in his own power, taking what he wanted, giving himself credit, and disregarding God’s commands. His affair with Bathsheba and the orchestrated murder of her husband, Uriah, were direct consequences of his self-exaltation. He had also neglected his God-given responsibilities, refraining from battle when kings were supposed to lead their armies (2 Samuel 11:1).

Now, humbled and on the run, David is repenting. He is realizing that misplaced glory leads to destruction, but when glory is given back to God, there is restoration. In this moment of crisis, David is not just praying for deliverance; he is returning his heart to where it always should have been: anchored in the unwavering glory of God.

Trust in the Ultimate Deliverance

"I call out to the Lord, and He answers me from His holy mountain." (Psalm 3:4)

David’s confidence comes from knowing that God provides forgiveness, mercy, and protection. He trusts in God’s promises, ultimately foreshadowing the greatest act of deliverance: Jesus on the cross.

Centuries later, another King would pray in distress. Jesus, in the Garden of Gethsemane, faced overwhelming fear as He prepared to bear the weight of sin. Yet, He followed the path set before Him, trusting in the ultimate plan of redemption.

David knew God would deliver him, not because he was perfect, but because of God's unwavering faithfulness. Yet, David only had a glimpse of what we now fully know: Jesus is our ultimate substitute. Unlike David, we have the assurance of Jesus' finished work on the cross. His death and resurrection have secured our victory over fear, sin, and death once and for all. How great is it that we no longer have to wonder if God will make a way.

David’s journey through fear wasn’t just about finding personal peace—he knew he was the rightful king and had to return to lead his people. His deliverance was not merely for his own sake but for the sake of God's people, who needed the return of their just and righteous king.

Fear often turns us inward, making us self-focused and hesitant. But Scripture teaches us that the opposite of fear is not courage—it is love. "Perfect love drives out fear." (1 John 4:18). The more we focus on serving others, seeking justice, and walking in obedience, the less room fear has to control us. David’s love for his people and trust in God’s calling emboldened him to move forward.

Moving Forward in Faith

We all face fear, whether it’s external challenges or internal anxieties that threaten to shake our identity. But like David, we are invited to bring our fears to God and to pray through them:

• Let’s keep moving in faith, even when the path is unclear.

• Let’s find our security in God, not in things that can be lost.

• Let's shift our focus outward; love drives out fear.

• Let’s trust in Jesus’ finished work and give Him the glory.

God doesn’t promise a life without hardship, but He does promise to be a shield around us. In Him, we find the strength to move through fear, not by ignoring it, but by surrendering them to the One who is greater than anything we fear. Let’s trust Him and be still in His presence.