What do you do when you are afraid? How do you respond, for example, if you hear a startling commotion in the middle of the night? Do you become paralyzed with fear and remain motionless under the covers? Do you jump up, grab a baseball bat, and investigate? Or, do you pray for guidance?
For most of my life, I have been one to take action when afraid. Before I could even think of the consequences, I set myself hard at work dealing with the issues that scare me. My actions, though, inevitably lead me into worse trouble.
Only of late have I begun to turn things over to God when I am afraid. If your life is crumbles around you… if you are face health problems… if you encounter financial troubles… if you face family issues… Whatever it is that you are afraid of, don’t just become paralyzed with fear. Don’t just take action, as I do. Rather, pray.
This passage in Ezra, however, does not tell us that the people of Israel prayed when they were afraid. Instead, they worshiped God.
Though fear had come upon them because of the people of those countries, they set the altar on its bases; and they offered burnt offerings on it to the Lord,
– Ezra 3:3a
I would bet few of us think to worship God when we are frightened. Yet, our God is a good God, loving and generous. He deserves to be worshipped. Whether we be happy, sad, angry, in mourning, in love, or afraid, our God deserves to be worshipped.
When we learn to worship God in all circumstances, we find peace that surpasses all understanding.
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