No matter what church you attend in town, there are probably some things they all have in common. There will be a song or two, a message from the Bible, and prayer. Prayer is an important piece for those who choose to journey towards Jesus. While we know talking to our Father in Heaven is important, we struggle. What do we say? What if we mess it up?
If prayer is simply speaking and listening to God, shouldn’t it be easy? The short answer is, “Yes.” Conversing with the God of the Universe who desperately wants to speak with us should be easy. Unfortunately, prayer is easy, until it’s not.
There are multiple reasons prayer gets difficult, but among the most prevalent, is fear. When we are afraid or things are happening in our life that produce anxiety, fear keeps us from looking at ourselves closely. We cannot grow in Christ while our eyes are fixated on everything but the Lord. Anxiety and fear steal our ability to grow.
A man named David, who lived 1,000 years before Jesus, knew something about fear. He was “on the run” from King Saul (1 Samuel 22). Saul was blinded by rage and jealousy and saw David as a threat to his throne. While David fled, he found himself in a cave contemplating his situation. We read David’s words in the book of Psalms. In Psalm 57:4, he makes this statement: I am in the midst of lions; I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts, men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.
David is afraid and understands his death is very possible. In the midst of the situation, he also speaks these words in verse 5: Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.
David understood something that has the power to change our lives. While fear is inevitable in our world, we can still praise the Lord. We can be reminded that we serve a God who is “above the heavens”. His view of our circumstances are much more complete. He sees our lives clearer than we can see them ourselves. He is the God MOST HIGH.
So, whatever “cave” you find yourself in, there is a God bigger than your circumstance that sees you. Call out to him in your trials and be reminded you are not alone.
