I am in a situation where it's easy for others to say that this time the problems are overwhelming. Perhaps God has pulled me through in the past, but this time around it's too great and he should go under. There's no way out and God has finally failed me.
Then I remember how in the past, I have felt this way time and time again and you have always came through for me. My testimony that I am still here proves this. The truth of Your word is that I will never go down by being overwhelmed unless I choose to reject You and Your word. My time will come when you call me home to be with you but this will not be in negative circumstances. This Psalm reminds of the specific ways in which you help me in tough times so I KNOW with great confidence that I will come out of it and this time will not be an exception.
1. You are a shield surrounding me. No situation or health concern will ever reach me unless it first goes by you and you approve it. There are no surprises in life for You, just for me. As a filter to what will eventully effect me, you are a shield from the really bad stuff that will take me out forever and your filter only lets in things that you know I need to work out for me to be a better person. As such, it is a controlled experiment and I can deal with that.
2. You are the one who LIFT my head. My own pride will not be what allows me to lift my head high above everyone when I overcome my present trial. However, the humility that you have given to me will allow me to claim victory that lasts and cannot be taken away. I already have my complete dignity. Whatever I perceived as lost, you will give back to me.
3. You sustain me. I am only able to persevere through my circumstance because of my long term habit I have cultivated of trusting you and depending on you. Otherwise, I would have given up a long time ago. This kind of faith and conviction is priceless. The knowledge that you will eventually deliver me gives me the motivation to keep going regardess of how slow I think the deliverance is.
4. I will not be afraid. I have read that there is really one one primary fear - the fear of dying or not existing any more. All other fears directly or indirectly stem for this one primary fear. If this is the case, then my greatest fear is already taken care of. I am saved and will "never" die. I will live with You forever and ever. With this fear gone, what can I really be afraid of? Everything else is a fear that I can actually do something about, if I choose, since it would not be beyond overcoming. Also, if I think about the time you have delivered me in the past and how I have always come out "better" in the end as a result of trials, I again come to the conclusion that I don't have to be afaid, unless I choose to. Well I choose not to. Life is too short and I only have one shot of life. I want my life to count in a meaning way for God. I want to say that I did the work God set before me in a successfuly way and I brough as many people as I could to the light. Living itself is a risk moment by moment and day by day, so I really should be afraid of taking risks like starting my own business becasue the return is greater than the potential loss. In a very real way, I will not be afraid because I CHOOSE to believe this from God's word.
5. God will take care of my enemies/obstacles. There are always people waiting for my faith to fail, my health to fail and my finances to fail. Instead of wishing ill on them, I choose to view that as a opportunity to believe that God will ultimately prevent their bad intents, thoughts and actions from ruining His plans for me. I also hope that as a result of what people see in my life that some of those will actually turn to God themselves and join in on the joy of living - the "fun" or "high" of life that many are seeking and don't seem to find. I too was a seeker and now I'm a believer. For the doubting, it works! For the intelligent, the truth is hidden in plain sight. There is no need to look too hard for the secret of happiness and eternal life. Use your instinct and intuition and you will realize that joy in life is one thought away.
Furthermore, all around me will look and behold
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