Psalm 64:1 Hear me, my God, as I voice my complaint;
    protect my life from the threat of the enemy.

For once, the ESV translation really struck me. The second half of the verse says, “Preserve my life from dread of the enemy.” The NIV and the Japanese say “threat” here, but often, what does damage isn’t so much as what our enemies do as it is our reaction to what they do and say. We generally have little control over what happens to us, but we have a lot of say over how we respond to it. This actually applies very broadly, even between nations. From many angles China seems to be falling apart, but their words strike fear in many other nations. Russia was thought to be a superpower militarily, but a much smaller Ukraine has fought them to a standstill. America is seldom if ever the aggressor, but if the government is seen as weak, all her military might won’t be the force for good that it could be. And of course, that applies on the personal level as well, just as David says here. Our enemies may or may not have actual power to harm us, but if we live in fear of them, we have handed them a victory they haven’t yet earned. That’s why what Paul wrote to the Romans is so important: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39) When we have that conviction, we are strong regardless of our circumstances. Dread will be a long-forgotten memory!

I have seen people paralyzed by dread, and have felt sorry for them. That’s not to say that I don’t suffer from “negative anticipation” sometimes myself! At this point, my greatest dread is of my wife being called to heaven before I am – but the reverse would be very rough on her, and I want to spare her that. If either of us succumbs to dread, that would ruin the peace and joy we experience with each other now. However, many things seem to point to Christ’s soon return, and that would completely eliminate that concern! In that line, some people seem to dread the world events described in Revelation. They won’t be fun to go through, but think of the climax! Pretty horrible things go on in the world all the time, but I don’t want dread of them to multiply their impact on me. That’s exactly what the devil wants, and I am to resist him on the basis of my submission to God. (James 4:7) Whatever happens to me, negative anticipation benefits no one.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I have been thinking a lot about, and praying for, the Shigetas, as the time of her homegoing is measured in days at the longest. I pray that they would be able to receive each moment from Your hand with gratitude, not dreading what is to come, but knowing that Your plans give them hope and a future, whatever happens in the short term (Jeremiah 29:11) May everything flow on Your schedule, for their great blessing and for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!