Young People's Group

As for me, I will call upon the Lord

by Pastor Mitch
September 04, 2015

When The Fears Of Life Threaten To Overwhelm Us

What do we do when the fears of life come upon us and threaten to overwhelm us? It is natural for us to feel like running away from such a predicament. This was what the Psalmist felt when he was in dire straits as noted in Psalm 55. He really felt like “flapping his wings and flying away”.

“Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me, And horror has overwhelmed me. So I said ,’Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. Indeed I would wander far  off, And remain in the wilderness.'”

Psalm 55:5-7

When King David was betrayed by Ahithophel, his close advisor (2 Samuel 16) and his son Absalom led a revolt against him, he became most fearful. He was so overwhelmed by his fearfulness that he spoke of being a dove that is ready to fly away so that it can be at rest. The point was that he wanted to wander away and stay far from his problems. Young people, the challenge is never to run away from our challenges and fears. The best solution is to always face them with prayer.

Turning To The Lord In Prayer

1. Personal Faith To Call Upon The Lord In Prayer

“As for me, I will call upon God, and the Lord shall save me.”

Psalm 55:16

King David determined within himself that he would exercise faith by calling on the Lord in prayer. There was that confidence that the Lord would hear his prayer and save him. It was David’s personal choice to pray in times of fear. Psalm 34:3 speaks of how when David called on the Lord, He delivered him from all his fears. Even so, the Lord will hear us when we call upon Him in prayer.

2. Persistent Prayer Throughout The Day

“Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, And He shall hear my voice. He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me”

Psalm 55:17-18

Why does the Psalmist start his prayer in the evening? It is because, for the people of Israel, the day starts in the evening. He would pray to the Lord persistently throughout the next day: in the morning and at noon. He would cry out continuously to the Lord and he knew that He would hear him. The Lord would bring about peace within the soul. This was something that Paul also taught in the text of Philippians 4:6-7. The peace of God will guard our heart and mind as we pray.

3. Placing Our Burden On The Lord In Prayer

“Cast your burdens on the Lord, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.”

Psalm 55:22

David also wrote of the need to cast our burdens to the Lord in prayer. When we learn to place our burdens on the Lord, He will specially sustain us. He will carry us and our burdens and strengthen us that we may not be moved. Young people, let’s learn to place our burdens on the Lord in prayer.

Determination To Trust In The Lord

“But I will trust in You.”

Psalm 55:23b

Our challenge is to have total trust in the Lord. Whether it is in the midst of making a prayer or after we have prayed, we must do our part to trust in the Lord more. Let’s determine to place our trust fully on His mercies and grace in all things that we go through.

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