fear

Daily Devotional: Proverbs 18:10 (ESV)

Sunday, October 25, 2026

Proverbs 18:10 (ESV)

The name of the LORD is a strong tower;
the righteous man runs into it and is safe.

Reflection

There’s a scene that plays out in my heart more often than I’d like to admit. Trouble comes, pressure mounts, fear whispers its old familiar lies, and I scramble to find safety somewhere. I run to control, trying to manage every variable. I run to approval, needing someone to tell me I’m okay. I run to distraction, hoping to numb the ache long enough to forget it’s there. These towers feel strong in the moment, but they’re made of sand. They crumble exactly when I need them to hold.

Proverbs 18:10 points somewhere else entirely. It says the name of Yahweh, His character, His covenant faithfulness, His revealed presence, is a strong tower. Not a shelter we build, but one we run into. Not a fortress of our own making, but a refuge already standing, already secure, already able to bear the full weight of our fear and need.

Here’s the mercy: this tower isn’t locked to the strong or the spiritually put-together. It’s for the righteous, and if you’re in Christ, that’s your identity, not because you’ve earned it, but because His righteousness has been credited to you. You don’t have to clean yourself up before you run. You just run, weak and weary as you are, straight into the arms of a God whose name has never once failed to hold.

Lord, when fear rises today, remind me where true safety is found. Let me run to You, not to my own flimsy towers.

Sources & attribution

Devotional from Morning Selah.

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Grace Church Sermon – Sunday 2026-10-11

“Helper and Deliverer” — Hebrews 2:14-18 Sermon Recap

Speaker: Pastor Troy

Opening Context and Aim

  • Pastor Troy opened with community updates: prayer for Grace Church amid recent Somali gang violence in Eden Prairie, and an announcement that digital voters’ guides would be posted on the church’s Connect page ahead of the November election.
  • He shared how early in his own Bible study he realized Scripture isn’t an exhaustive answer manual to every “why” question in life, but it does give us endless reasons to trust God’s character, even when it doesn’t answer every question.
  • He framed Hebrews 2:14-18 as one of the rare texts that directly tackles a big “why” question: why did Jesus have to become human?

Scripture and Narrative Overview

  • Passage: Hebrews 2:14-18
  • “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery” (Hebrews 2:14-15).
  • “For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham” (Hebrews 2:16).
  • “Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people” (Hebrews 2:17).
  • “For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted” (Hebrews 2:18).

Six Reasons Christ Became Human

  1. To truly share our humanity. He didn’t merely look human; he became fully flesh and blood, entering our condition completely, minus sin, so he could understand and empathize with our weakness (Hebrews 2:14).
  2. To break the devil’s power through death. God, not Satan, holds ultimate authority over death, but Satan wields the fear of death as a weapon. Through dying, Christ disarmed the devil and stripped that weapon from his hands (Hebrews 2:14).
  3. To free those enslaved by the fear of death. Christ broke the psychological grip that the fear of dying holds over people, a fear visible in obsessions with youth, safety, control, and relevance (Hebrews 2:15).
  4. To rescue God’s people, not angels. Christ’s saving mission was directed at humanity (the “offspring of Abraham”), not fallen angels (Hebrews 2:16).
  5. To become our merciful and faithful high priest who atones for sin. As mediator, Christ’s own human experience makes him merciful, and his obedience to God makes him faithful. His propitiation satisfies God’s wrath against sin, reconnecting sinners to God (Hebrews 2:17).
  6. To help us when we are tempted. Jesus doesn’t just know about temptation because he’s all-knowing; he experienced it himself, without sinning, and is therefore able to help those who are tempted (Hebrews 2:18).

Key Theological Themes and Applications

1) A New Way to Think About Death

  • Christ’s incarnation and victory over death should shift believers from viewing death as a terrifying end to seeing it as a defeated enemy and a gateway to glory.
  • Satan still exists, but his weapon, the fear of death, has been stripped of its power.

2) A New Way to Think About Salvation

  • Salvation isn’t a shallow transaction or self-help system; it’s a profound rescue. Christ didn’t shout instructions from heaven, he entered the pit himself to save us.
  • Salvation begins not with what we must do, but with what Christ has already done, and continues to do.

3) A New Way to Think About Help

  • Temptation doesn’t disqualify a believer; it can drive them toward Christ rather than away in shame.
  • The word “help” in Hebrews 2:18 pictures someone running to the aid of a person crying out for rescue. Jesus is not just a Savior who helped in the past but a living High Priest actively helping now.

Who God Is

  • Sovereign: God, not Satan, governs life and death.
  • Merciful and Faithful: Christ fully identifies with human weakness and is wholly obedient to the Father.
  • Rescuer: God doesn’t shout advice from a distance; he enters our condition to save us himself.

Who You Are in Christ

  • Reconnected to God through Christ’s propitiation, no longer condemned by sin.
  • Freed from slavery to the fear of death.
  • Welcomed to cry out for help without shame, knowing Christ listens and comes running.

Examples and Illustrations from Pastor Troy

  • The red spiral notebook from his early Bible study years, used to illustrate that Scripture doesn’t answer every “why” question but gives reasons to trust God.
  • A $20 (later $10) bill offered to anyone who could guess the sermon’s central “why” question, livening up the exposition.
  • The image of being trapped at the bottom of a pit, needing a rescuer to climb down, not just someone shouting instructions from above.
  • A Puritan quote: “Death used to be an executioner, but Jesus Christ made death just a gardener.”
  • The picture of a defanged snake that can only “gum” believers rather than bite them, illustrating a defeated but still-present enemy.

Practical Calls to Action

  • Let your view of death be transformed: live with fearlessness, faithfulness, and freedom instead of dread.
  • Recognize salvation as a divine rescue, not a self-improvement project; stop trying to “clean yourself up” before coming to Christ.
  • When tempted, run to Christ for help rather than hiding in shame.
  • Use the moment of communion to confess sin, receive grace, and recalibrate your life toward Jesus.
  • Pray for Grace Church’s gospel witness into the Somali community and for discernment as Christians prepare to vote in November.

Closing Thought

Hebrews 2:14-18 rewrites the human story by taking three things that naturally terrify us, death, salvation, and our need for help, and filtering them through a Savior who shared our flesh and blood. By becoming human, Jesus tasted our suffering, defeated death, and now actively helps those who cry out to him. He doesn’t judge when we come to him; he runs to help.

Selected Scripture References Highlighted

  • Hebrews 2:3
  • Hebrews 2:14-18

Sources & attribution

Sermon outline from Morning Selah.

Based on the sermon “Helper and Deliverer”, Hebrews 2:14-18, preached at Grace Church by Pastor Troy on October 11, 2026. Watch the sermon.

Daily Devotional: 2 Timothy 1:7 (ESV)

Sunday, October 11, 2026

2 Timothy 1:7 (ESV)

for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Reflection

Fear has a way of settling into the corners of your heart that you didn’t even know were empty. It shows up in the quiet moments when you’re tempted to think the worst about your future, your health, your children, your marriage, or your own usefulness in God’s kingdom. And once it moves in, it tends to rearrange everything. It makes you small. It makes you guarded. It makes you forget who holds you.

Paul wrote these words to Timothy, a young pastor who was tempted to shrink back, to let fear write the story of his ministry instead of grace. And Paul reminds him (and us) that the Spirit God gives his children is not a trembling, timid spirit. It is a spirit of power, because our strength was never meant to come from ourselves. It is a spirit of love, because fear is self-focused, but grace turns us outward toward others. It is a spirit of self-control, because panic never leads to wisdom, but the Spirit’s steady presence does.

Here’s the gospel comfort in this: your calling was never sustained by your own courage. It is sustained by the indwelling presence of God himself. He has not abandoned you to face today’s uncertainties alone. Christ’s finished work secures your standing, and his Spirit supplies what you lack.

So when fear whispers that you’re not enough, remember: you were never meant to be. He is.

Lord, when fear rises, remind me again that your Spirit lives in me, and that is more than enough for today.

Sources & attribution

Devotional from Morning Selah.

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

I’m Really Afraid

Fear has a way of showing up in moments I don’t expect. About twelve years ago, I walked through one of the most frightening experiences of my life. We were in Florida when a strange pain started late one evening. It felt like severe heartburn at first, something uncomfortable but manageable. I figured it would fade. Instead, it followed me onto the plane the next morning and turned the entire flight home into a miserable blur of discomfort and escalating pain.

For the next week, I tried every over-the-counter remedy I could find. Antacids, medications, dietary changes—anything that might bring relief. But nothing helped. The pain intensified day by day. By Monday night, it reached a level I simply could not ignore. I told my wife we needed to go to the emergency room immediately. I had never experienced pain like that, and fear wrapped itself tightly around my chest as we drove.

The diagnosis was pericarditis. Inflammation around the heart. I spent three days in the hospital, exhausted, confused, and honestly afraid. The pain was excruciating. For a while, even the doctors weren’t entirely sure what was going on. Those days were filled with tests, uncertainty, and long hours of staring at the ceiling wondering what God was doing and what would happen next.

Looking back, the fear of what might be was just as overwhelming as the pain itself. That’s how fear works. Sometimes living in fear of what might happen is more draining than facing the thing itself. And it makes me ask myself: what am I avoiding right now because I’m afraid? What am I trying to manage on my own instead of bringing straight to God?

Psalm 34:7 reminds me, “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers them.” Fearing the Lord doesn’t mean living terrified. It means giving Him weight in my heart above everything else. When fear becomes my focus, it consumes my thoughts. But when I shift my focus to God, everything changes.

Over the years, I’ve learned to respond to fear by turning back to God in three intentional ways:

1. I cry out to Him honestly

I tell God exactly what I’m afraid of. I name it. I admit how much it unsettles and weakens me. And I ask Him to show me whether this fear is a real warning or simply unnecessary anxiety weighing me down.

2. I open His Word

I look for truth that grounds me. I write down what Scripture says and allow His promises to steady my next thoughts and actions. Fear loses its power when truth becomes my anchor.

3. I walk forward with assurance

When I choose to fear (honor) the Lord above all else, I can trust that His angels surround me. Even before I take the next step, I know He is already there. Psalm 34:7 tells me I am not alone—God is encamping around me, and He will deliver me.

I love this promise. It comforts me. It strengthens me. And it challenges me to live like it’s true, not just believe it in theory. What fear can I face today? What step have I been avoiding? What hard thing have I been circling around instead of confronting?

If I could sit with you today, I would put a hand on your shoulder and remind you: God is with you. He is holding you. And when you know He is with you and His angels surround you, you can face your fears—even the unexpected ones—with confidence.

Prayer

Dear Lord, if this feeling of fear is a true warning from You, help me recognize it. But if this fear is simply a distraction keeping me from Your peace, give me courage. Help me walk assured in Your presence. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Attribution: Inspired by the chapter “I’m Really Afraid” from Embraced by Lysa TerKeurst.

Alone in a Crowded Room

There are moments when I walk into a space filled with people, yet feel completely invisible. The room is full of laughter, conversation, and connection, but somehow I still feel on the outside. It is a strange kind of loneliness, one that does not come from being physically alone, but from feeling unseen and unspoken to.

I tell myself to just walk up, introduce myself, join in. I know the right steps. But something deeper holds me back. Everyone seems settled in their conversations, their circles already formed. I do not want to interrupt, so I stand there, surrounded by people, but disconnected.

I have felt this same distance in other places too. Sometimes in my own home. Sometimes with people I care about. Pride keeps my words trapped inside me. Silence grows between us. Even in the same room, even in the same family, connection can feel miles away.

I have been tempted to blame others. To tell myself they are too busy, too focused on themselves, too wrapped up in their own worlds to see me. But the truth is harder and more honest. The deeper problem is not them. It is that I walked in unprepared, empty, and looking for someone else to fill a space that only God can fill.

I start to live as if my next breath depends on another person’s attention, approval, or invitation. But the air is already there. The room is already filled. I just refuse to breathe in what God is offering.

People were never meant to be my source of oxygen for the soul. It is not wrong to need community. God created us for relationship. But when my need turns into a demand that others can never meet, disappointment is guaranteed to follow.

The Shift

Now I ask myself a different question when I walk into a room.

Am I entering this space filled up by God, ready to give, to listen, to bless? Or am I walking in empty, waiting for someone else to notice me, include me, or affirm me?

People who live filled with God are not superheroes with endless confidence. They are simply grounded. God is their oxygen. From that place, they can love freely, without desperation. They still need people. They still value connection. But their love comes from fullness, not from lack.

This is how I want to live too. Secure. Steady. Rooted in the love of God.

When I live from the truth that I am already loved, I stop chasing scraps of acceptance. I walk into rooms with peace instead of panic. I can love others because I am not empty. I am already held.

Prayer

Lord, thank You for loving me with a love that cannot be shaken, taken, or tarnished. Teach me to look to You alone to fill and satisfy my heart. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Attribution: Inspired by the chapter “Alone in a Crowded Room” from Embraced by Lysa TerKeurst.

Ezekiel 26 and Psalm 74

Ezekiel

Ezekiel 24 is the pronouncement of judgment against Tyre. Tyre was condemned not only for celebrating and participating in the demise of Jerusalem, but also in its role of introducing its false idolatry to Israel.

Psalms

Psalm 74 is a psalm of anguish by Asaph. Carson shares a very helpful introduction,

It is appropriate to reflect on Psalm 74 at this stage of our reading of the major prophets. It sounds as if it was written at a time of national disaster, perhaps the devastation of 587 b.c. (compare Ps. 79, 137; Lam. 2:5-9). The worst blow of all is that all the prophets are silent (74:9). Then suddenly in the midst of the gloom and havoc is a breath of praise (74:12-17), before the darkness descends again (74:18-23). The interruption is dramatic, and reinforced by a sudden switch from the first person plural (“we,”“us”) to the first person singular:“But you, O God, are my king from of old” (74:12). Noteworthy features include… The anguish of this chapter emerges out of faith, not skepticism, still less cynicism. These people know God, but cannot see what he is doing. They are not so much protesting his punishment of them as its duration: they act as if they know the punishment is deserved, but is it open–ended? Is there no relief? “Why have you rejected us forever, O God?” (74:1). “Turn your steps toward these everlasting ruins” (74:3). “How long will the enemy mock you, O God? Will the foe revile your name forever?” (74:10).1

Book: Running Scared: Fear, Worry, and the God of Rest

This morning, I returned to reading the book I started awhile ago by Ed Welch. In the chapter I read today, he addressed fear with Palm 46,

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. (Psalm 46:1-3)

Yes, the psalm is a stretch for us, not because of the potential brutality of the situation, but because of the psalmist’s radical trust in God. So let it stretch you. Let the psalmist take you places you could never go on your own. Let him be your guide through perilous times. He, after all, is a person like you. The faith he had can be your own and more, because you live on the side of history where the Spirit of God has been poured out on you. The Spirit gives you the knowledge of God. “God is our refuge and strength, an ever–present help in trouble.” A good friend was in the hospital with surgical pain so severe he couldn’t think, and he assumed he was going to die. The only words he could say were these words. That’s what we are aiming for. We want these words to be automatic when trouble comes knocking. What do they mean? That God can be found when we need him. Don’t forget that he was found by Israelites who were not even looking. How much more will he be found by those who call out to him in their desperation. Here is the challenge. When you call out, you might feel like he isn’t present or easily found. That is the nature of pain. The worse it is, the more alone you feel. But this is a time when the words of God must override your feelings. There are times when we listen to our feelings and times when we don’t. This is a time when we don’t.2

1 D. A. Carson, For the Love of God: a Daily Companion for Discovering the Riches of God’s Word., vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1998), 25.

2 Edward T. Welch, Running Scared: Fear, Worry, and the God of Rest (Greensboro, NC: New Growth Press, 2007), 272.

Ezekiel 15 and Psalm 56-57

Ezekiel 15 is a short chapter of only 8 verses. The metaphor that Ezekiel uses is that of a dead vine (Ezekiel 15:2). He states that it is basically good for nothing but to be tossed into a fire and used as fuel (Ezek. 15:3-4). Even the remaining charred middle part of the vine that is pulled from the ashes is worthless (Ezek. 15:4-5). Likewise, the judgment on those in Jerusalem will be complete and there will be nothing left of any redeeming value.

It is worth noting that even though God is patient and withholds immediate judgment on our sin by His mercy, His judgment will come and it will be thorough. When I ponder that fact, I am comforted by the truth of the gospel and its effectiveness against the truth of Hebrews 9:27. I am deserving of the same judgment that the people of Jerusalem faced. I too have been guilty of idolatry and I have turned my back on God. Though there is no doubt that I was guilty and facing judgment before Christ redeemed me, I have also sinned against God since becoming a believer. Oh, what a wonderful work of grace the gospel is. Jesus has paid the penalty for my sin. The lyrics from the chorus of the song, Jesus Paid It All express this truth:

Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow. 1

Psalm 56 is rich for the believer who is burdened by fear and/or anxiety. Once of the most precious verses is Ps. 56:3, “When I am afraid I will trust in you.” (emphasis mine). It would be a good practice for every believer, myself included, to wake up each morning and quote that verse as a statement of our will!

Ps. 56:8 is a reminder that God does care about every pain we experience whether is is physical or emotional. Certainly the psalmist, David, experience physically pain while he and his men were on the run from King Saul, but the pain he speaks of in these psalms is likely emotional suffering. There is a great value in pairing Ps. 56:8 with Ps. 56:3.

Ps. 56:9-11 is an echo of Ps. 56:3. Since it is repeated again, it makes me pause to contemplate its importance. When I fear or when anxiety is crippling my life, I must trust in God even though I don’t see His hand. John Piper writes about anxiety in the blog at Desiring God:

Jesus must mean that God’s knowing is accompanied by his desiring to meet our need. He is emphasizing we have a Father. And this Father is better than an earthly father.

…He knows everything about them now and tomorrow, inside and out. He sees every need.

Add to that, his huge eagerness to meet their needs (the “much more” of Matt. 6:30). Add to that his complete ability to do what he is eager to do (he feeds billions of birds hourly, Matt. 6:26).…2

D.A. Carson gives a wonderful explanation of the anguish that David felt in Ps. 57:2

Certainly David does not think that somehow circumstances have slipped away from such a God. He begs for mercy, but he recognizes that God, the powerful God, fulfills his purposes in him. This mixture of humble pleading and quiet trust in God’s sovereign power recurs in Scripture again and again. Nowhere does it reach a higher plane than in the prayer of the Lord Jesus in the garden: “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will” (Matt. 26:39). In some measure or another, every follower of Jesus Christ will want to learn the anguish and the joy of that sort of praying.3

My prayer this morning is that I can redeem the burden that I carry by the power of the Holy Spirit for His glory and for my good.

1 Faith Publishing House, Evening Light Songs, 1949, edited 1987 (466); All to Christ I Owe

2 John Piper, “Your Father Knows What You Need,” Desiring God (blog), February 9, 2009, http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/your-father-knows-what-you-need.

3 D. A. Carson, For the Love of God: a Daily Companion for Discovering the Riches of God’s Word., vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1998), 25.

Ezekiel 10 and Psalm 49

Ezekiel 10 is the part of Ezekiel’s vision where he sees the cherubim and the glory of God leaving the Temple. The vision is much the same as his original vision in Ezek. 1:1-28. Many of the contemporary gods of his day were thought to have a range limited by space and an influence within only a specific area. God, on His chariot-throne is free to leave the temple along with His power and influence. He chose to depart the temple because of the idolatry of Israel and because she had broken the covenant.

Psalm 49 is a warning to those who are wealthy and put their trust in their possessions. No one can ransom another person’s life (Ps. 4:5-9). Both the wealthy and the poor (and those somewhere in between) will die and leave all of their possessions behind. The poor do not need to fear the wealthy and the wealthy need to fear the Lord. The message of the gospel is for all people (Ps. 49:1-2) and those with means are not sufficient in themselves and able to ignore the gospel.

As a middle-of-the-roader, I don’t think I fear the rich, but perhaps I fear their influence. Psalm 49:16 is appropriate for putting life into the proper perspective. The one we should respect and be influenced by is The Lord Almighty.

Ezekiel 5 and Psalms 42-43

In Ezekiel 5, Ezekiel is again commanded to provide a physical illustration to the exiles of what is going to happen to Jerusalem. Remembering back a few days, the exiles did not or would not believe in the judgment against Jerusalem. In this case, Ezekiel shaves off all of his hair and beard and uses portions of it to demonstrate the various aspects of the judgment against Jerusalem. Ezekiel 5:12 provides the summary of the judgment: one third will die within the city from the siege, a third will die by the sword in the final breakout, and a third will be scattered into Exile.

The pronoun “I” is repeated throughout Ezekiel 5:8-17 and emphasizes the unstoppable hand of God’s wrath. Ezekiel 5:13 says that His wrath will eventually subside and His anger will cease. God’s wrath is not fully resolved until the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. (Rom. 3:20-26).

Psalm 42 and Psalm 43 are songs for the downcast heart. The phrase, “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God…” is repeated three times in Ps. 42:5, Ps. 42:11, and Ps. 43:5. It may sound simplistic, but the solution to a downcast heart or depression, is hope in God. He is the source of joy and the antidote to depression.

Another relevant phrase  in Psalms 43:3 is, “Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me;” When confusion and fear step into my life, it is the truth and light of the Word of God that I need most in my life. Truth dispels darkness as light does. Fear grows in the absence of truth. Fear tells me God doesn’t care and I am all alone. Truth reminds me of His promises and gives hope for His presence and love.

I close with a beloved verse in Ps. 42:1, “As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.” Just as a deer needs fresh water so my soul needs the living water from the Word of God to sustain my spiritual life.

Matthew Henry explains this verse effectively:

When he (David) was debarred from his outward opportunities of waiting on God, when he was banished to the land of Jordan, a great way off from the courts of God’s house. Note, sometimes God teaches us effectually to know the worth of mercies by the want of them, and whets our appetite for the means of grace by cutting us short in those means. We are apt to loathe that manna, when we have plenty of it, which will be very precious to us if ever we come to know the scarcity of it. 1

1 Henry, Matthew. Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume. Peabody: Hendrickson, 1994. Print.

Jeremiah 51 and Psalm 30

Jer. 51 is actually yesterday’s reading. I fell behind a day so I plan to read yesterday’s scheduled reading this morning and today’s reading tonight.

Jer. 51 is a longer chapter that foretells of the destruction of Babylon. The Lord used Babylon as a tool of chastening against Israel. However, the sins of Babylon will not be overlooked or pardoned. The great city and nation will fall because of the just hand of God. Jer. 51:8-9 is interesting because there is a tone of pity for Babylon. If she would repent, she could be saved. However, the last part of Jer. 51:9 instructs the reader or Israel to walk away because Babylon will not repent but will be destroyed.

Jer. 51:20-23 describes the destructive actions that will occur. Jeremiah repeats the phrase, “…with you…”. I don’t think that means Israel, but I am not sure who it refers to without referencing a commentary. Jer. 51:34-35 describes the indictment against Babylon. The length of the chapter and the detailed description of the destruction and judgment against Babylon is worth noting.

Ps. 30:2 is a testimony of God’s care. When we cry out to God, our words do not fall to the ground unheard or unacknowledged. He hears us when we cry out to him. The second part of the verse tells us that He heals us when we cry out to him.

Ps. 30:5-6 tells us that pain and suffering has a finite duration. We endure it for a season or a time, but “…joy comes in the morning.” Often, lately, I wake up with fear but as I rise and begin the day, the fear subsides. Perhaps a brief prayer upon waking to acknowledge my heart to God would reflect the tenor of these verses.

Ps 30:8, 10 reiterate the psalmist’s thought that his repentance and his cry for help is directed to God and not to things or other people. Only God has the answer to the fears and deep hurts of life.

Ps. 30:11 is where the writer turns the corner. Mourning is turned to dancing. His prayers have been answered and there is a restoration of joy! His response is a thankful heart forever (Ps. 30:12)

D.A. Carson observes the spirit of Psalm 30 in his devotional book, “For the Love of God, Volume Two”,

many a christian has experienced the almost ineffable release of being transported from despair or illness or catastrophic defeat or a sense of alienated distance from God, to a height of safety or health or victory or spiritual intimacy with our Maker and Redeemer. Certainly David had such experiences. Psalm 30 records his pleasure during one of those transports of delight.