Feeling Afraid?

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, “You are my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Surely He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler, and from the deadly plague. He will cover you with His feathers; under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and rampart.”

Psalms pairs asking, seeking and waiting with a concrete instruction rather than leaving it as an idea.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand.”

From Ephesians, we see prayer and daily dependence expressed through trust and obedience.

“But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.”

II Thessalonians places asking, seeking and waiting inside the wider story of redemption.

“The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.”

This verse in Proverbs reminds us that asking, seeking and waiting is rooted in God's promise.

“Call to Me, and I will answer and show you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”

For the readers of Jeremiah, prayer and honest petition was a matter of practice before it was a matter of theory.