I sought the lord and he heard my cry and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. Psalms 34:4-5.

Fear, is one of the most crippling emotions that we as human’s encounter. This fear is generally masked by many other emotions like; anxiety, insecurity, worry, jealousy, and doubt, to name a few.
Fear is one of the worst emotions you can have, because fear is torment. The results of fear are a stifling hold that keeps you from reaching your full potential in God. Therefore, we must remember that God has not given the believer a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and of a sound mind.
In fact, perfect love cast out fear. Fear is cast out when the love of Christ has been perfected in us. The more our love is perfected in Christ, the less fears we will have.
As we look closely at this passage, we see that seeking God can bring about a relief to the soul. Not was David delivered from fear but took on a new look. He noticed and perhaps others too, noticed radiance. The kind of radiance that removed shame.
So, here’s David, a king, warrior, and giant slayer, yet humble enough to still seek God. Because of David’s humility, God named him as a man after his heart. David sought to please the lord. Although he coveted another man’s wife, slept with her, and then went so far as to take the man’s life. All because of fear.
David must have feared what would come of this sin that he had committed. Learning that the consequence of his lust would bring forth a child with another man’s wife. So, to try and fix this mess, he used his authority to take the man’s life.
All this folly, yet he was still considered a man after Gods heart. Why? Because David sought the lord. He was chosen and anointed by God, and Gods’ hand was upon him.
He took time to consult God even when he had done wrong. Even in his frailty he sought to right any of his wrongs.
This passage is a good reminder that God can and will deliver us from all unrighteousness, if we confess our sins to him. As scripture tells us God is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us of all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9.
Scripture tells us that God is slow to anger, and that our hope in him will not leave us ashamed. But we must confess our faults. Confession is not always an easy thing to do, but when you seek the lord, the Holy Spirit will compel you to confess. When is sin is not confessed it holds us in a constant state of fear, that is coupled with shame.
Now let us remember, those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. Psalms 34:5. This scripture supports how David could continue to go forward with being king. He was able to seek the lord, repent, and move forward without the crippling results of his sin.
Coming clean with God will remove sin and cause your face to shine with radiance. Not only will your face shine with radiance, but the residue of shame will never be upon your face.
I can truly relate to this passage. On this Christian journey, I too have sought the lord about the worries and fears of life. I found myself caught in cycles of fear. Until I came to grips with myself, recognizing through the holy spirit, that I needed God to deliver me. God heard me and removed the fears out of my life.
God is perfecting his love in me, so fear has no place to remain. Now my face too, is radiant without shame. I can move forward like David and fulfill the call God has for me.
In conclusion, seeking God daily is a requirement in the life of a believer. The Lord must be sought through prayer and meditating on the word. This is the only way a believer can come to truly know and love the lord.
The grips of fear can only hold us for so long, when we are truly seeking the lord. There is no room for fear, when Jesus is near. So, like David, let God deliver you from fear as you seek him with your whole heart.
-Shonee P.