The Direction of Our Thoughts

Do not look behind you
Genesis 19:17

forgetting what lies behind
Philippians 3:13

Do not call to mind the former things,
Or ponder things of the past.
Isaiah 43:18

they . . . walked in their own counsels
and in the stubbornness of their evil heart,
and went backward and not forward.
Jeremiah 7:24

Jesus said to him,
“No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back,
is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Luke 9:62

Remember Lot’s wife.
Luke 17:32

fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith
Hebrews 12:2

their faces did not turn when they moved,
each went straight forward
Ezekiel 1:9

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6

Psalm 119 Gimel

Ambitious Early Attempts

v. 17 Deal bountifully with Your servant,
That I may live and keep Your word.

We need God to thoroughly work in us so we can live by His Word. God’s desire is to benefit us which He can do through His Word.

v. 18 Open my eyes, that I may behold
Wonderful things from Your law.

Our prayer should be to ask the Lord to reveal what is wonderful about His Standards. His Standards are good and will have a lasting, marvelous effect on our lives. Only with God’s help will we understand how wonderful they are. Our human minds cannot naturally comprehend that a law can be wonderful. God’s law is wonderful for us to follow and for us to benefit from. He will help us to see that to be true.

v. 19 I am a stranger in the earth;
Do not hide Your commandments from me.

Even though we are temporary dwellers on the earth, God’s orders are important. We should ask Him to reveal what we need to do each day. Following these commands will help us to be prepared for our time with Him in heaven where believers in Christ are not strangers.

v. 20 My soul is crushed with longing
After Your ordinances at all times.

There are times that righteous judgments are needed. The attitude of our hearts should be a brokenness because of the lack of godliness around us and of our longing to know what is the right thing to do in our situations of life. A longing for God to reign in the world and His glorious will to be done should be the desire of our hears.

v. 21 You rebuke the arrogant, the cursed,
Who wander from Your commandments.

God has given orders. Those who don’t think they need them will be cursed. No one can think that his way is better than God’s way and get away with it. There are consequences to that way of thinking. It is better for us to follow God’s commandments.

v. 22 Take away reproach and contempt from me,
For I observe Your testimonies.

The things that bear witness to God can remove reproach and contempt away from me. This testimony is that God has power to protect His people. His protection is only possible if we value His Word above all else.

v. 23 Even though princes sit and talk against me,
Your servant meditates on Your statutes.

No matter what the circumstances are, we should keep doing and thinking about the duties God has given us to do. We can trust Him to take care of the other things, even if authorities are speaking against us.

v. 24 Your testimonies also are my delight;
They are my counselors.

The testimonies of God are seen in His Word and in the lives of believers. These testimonies should be a delight to us, such as being able to see how the Lord works in other people’s lives.

Summary: At the beginning of our walk with God in our Christian life, His Word needs to have an important place in our lives. This stanza reminds of us of the value that His Word in our lives. It is our protection and our guide. It helps us to discern right from wrong and to learn how to respond to the situations of our lives. It is truly wonderful how it can help us. This stanza also reminds us that the focus of our lives is not to be here on this earth but to be on life with God in heaven. Our time on earth now is a preparation for our life with Him. Making God’s Word of greater importance in our lives now will prepare us for fellowship with Him for all eternity.

Psalm 119 Beth

Beth.
How to Choose the Way

v. 9 How can a young man keep his way pure?
By keeping it according to Your word.

Keeping our lives pure by following God’s Word is possible because God’s Word is pure. The full representation of God’s Word is Jesus. He is our example of purity, and He lived a pure life on earth because He depended on God’s Word and the Holy Spirit to guide Him. We have the same help to help us to have pure lives.

v. 10 With all my heart I have sought You;
Do not let me wander from Your commandments.

The habit of our lives should be to look to the Bible for God’s instructions. We should not let other habits cause us to wander away from the Bible because we think that we know the commandments well enough. The devil’s trap is to encourage us to think that we don’t have to keep looking for God’s instructions because what we know is enough. What an infinite God has given us in His Word cannot be easily learned. It is an infinite truth. We need to keep searching and studying it.

v. 11 Your word I have treasured in my heart,
That I may not sin against You.

We need to treasure the Lord Jesus in our lives by allowing His presence and His Word, the Bible, to keep us from sinning and by enabling us to discern what is of God and what is not. This response of treasuring the Lord should be from our innermost being and not as a result of a superficial change in our outward actions. Reforming our lives or working at changing some areas of our lives will not enable us to be without sin. Reforming depends on our own actions. Not sinning depends on God and His Word to bring about a change in our lives from the inside out. Our outward actions will, then, reflect the inward change. That is a life we can treasure.

v. 12 Blessed are You, O Lord;
Teach me Your statutes.

The Lord is worthy of worship. One reason for worshiping God is because He will teach us His statutes, His duties for us. Sometimes we have been given instructions by people, but those people will not teach us how to understand or to do what they have asked us. God is not like that. He will teach us, if we ask. Another amazing thing for us is that by following God’s Word we are worshiping God. The worship and the obedience go together, and God will help us to understand how to make that happen.

v. 13 With my lips I have told of
All the ordinances of Your mouth.

When we read the Bible, we will read stories that tell about the acts of justice that God has done and about ones that He will do. These accounts show us the true qualities of God. These are the things that we should be talking about so that others will know the greatness of God.

v. 14 I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies,
As much as in all riches.

The testimony of God can provide us with a way of life that will bring rejoicing. This life is better than all riches. God’s testimonies reveal so much about God that they cannot be contained and far surpass the riches of the world. Bearing witness of God is better than having all kinds of wealth because the testimony of God is eternal.

v. 15 I will meditate on Your precepts
And regard Your ways.

Many things come into our minds and keep our thoughts turning. It is better that we think about God’s instructions thoroughly. These instructions will show us how to direct our lives. As we meditate on these truths, we will have a greater regard for God and how He works.

v. 16 I shall delight in Your statutes;
I shall not forget Your word.

The word delight means to find delight in doing what God says and to blind ourselves from all other things that will lead us away from God. We should choose to remember God’s Word, both the written Word as well as the eternal Word Jesus. Jesus should not become of little importance in our lives. The prescribed duties recorded in the Bible will help us to keep Jesus and His written Word first in our lives.

Summary: This stanza begins with a question concerning how to live a pure life. Purity is a rare thing in almost every area of life. It can be hard to define it or grasp the concept of purity. The answer to the question in the psalm is the Word of God. The Word of God will first of all help us to understand what purity of life is, and then it will tell us how to gain it. The attitude of the psalmist was to be diligent in seeking the truths from the Word of God. He delighted in, rejoiced over, and treasured God’s Word. The psalmist’s responses to the Word of God give us a picture of the value of, not only the Bible, but also purity. It would be good for us to diligently and earnestly seek for the truths of God’s Word so that we receive the purity that only God can give.

Psalm 119 – Aleph

Psalm 119
Walking in the Way of the Word

Aleph.
Vision of a Certain Kind of Life

v. 1 How blessed are those whose way is blameless,
       Who walk in the law of the Lord.

We can be blameless because we live by God’s standards. Blamelessness is a picture of not having any blemish on our character, or in our way of doing things. One cause of guilt in most people is remembering things that we have done wrong or that we thing might be wrong or that we think other think are wrong. This can be a great turmoil of mind and heart. This verse tells us that there is a way that leads to blamelessness, and this way involves walking in or following the law of the Lord. This verse not only tells us that there is hope for this kind of life, but it also introduces the theme of the psalm which is the Word of God. The first view of the Word of God is as the law or the standards that God has laid out for us to follow. The first way that the Word of God will help us is by giving us standards to live by that will help us to have that blameless life our souls crave.

v. 2 How blessed are those who observe His testimonies,
      Who seek Him with all their heart.

God’s testimony should be believed with the whole heart. Another blessedness of God’s Word are the testimonies of God given in it. These testimonies reveal more and more about God so that our hearts long for and seek Him earnestly.

v. 3 They also do no unrighteousness;
       They walk in His ways.

Don’t do unrighteousness, but follow God’s plan for your life. A contrast is given here. If we follow God’s ways which are revealed in the Bible, we will not do unrighteousness. There is a picture of the freedom that God’s Word can give – we don’t have to do unrighteousness any more! That is a great blessing.

v. 4 You have ordained Your precepts,
      That we should keep them diligently.

God gives instructions or precepts, and we should keep them diligently. These instructions are laid out for us in the Bible and will help us to have a godly life.

v. 5 Oh that my ways may be established
       To keep Your statutes!

This verse is a cry to God as a result of seeing a need to change spiritually. Our ways often go many different directions in purposes and goals, which leads to uncertainty and confusion. When we recognize that we need better direction in our lives, what we are looking for is a way to steady or establish our lives. The answer to that need is to keep God’s statutes or His prescribed instructions. We need to stop going around in our own exhausting, unsatisfying way and follow God’s instructions. We will see a settling and establishing of peace and all that is truly good happening in our lives.

v. 6 Then I shall not be ashamed
       When I look upon all Your commandments.

There is no cause to be ashamed when we look to God’s commands or orders for help. We need to have a correct attitude towards God’s commandments which are His orders. We should look at them as being good to do since it is good to do them. When we start to doubt the good of God’s Word, we will feel ashamed of it and begin to set it aside and choose to listen to human ideas instead. The cycle of being ashamed of God’s Word is endless and completely unfulfilling. Instead we should look for and follow God’s orders. We will find no shame in that.

v. 7 I shall give thanks to You with uprightness of heart,
      When I learn Your righteous judgments.

The judgment of God’s righteousness is that it is always good and right. The heart’s response should be a strong response of praise and thanksgiving for what God has given which is an uprightness that can only come from Him. Learning about God’s judgments will give us confidence in that which is right. It is good to know that you are “right,” and that rightness can only be had through God’s Word.

v. 8 I shall keep Your statutes;
      Do not forsake me utterly!

Promising to keep God’s statutes, or His decrees, is good, but we cannot keep them with our own power. We need God’s help and need cry as the psalmist cried out for God to not forsake him. The awesomeness of following God’s ways should burden us to depend greatly on God.

Summary: These verses show us a kind of life that we should aspire to. This life is based on the Word of God, and it will bless us in many ways. It will be a guide to a blameless life. It will be the answer to our searching. It will remove our reasons for shame and guilt. It will give us an uprightness that we have been lacking. It will give us a God Who will not forsake us. This kind of life requires some things of us. We need to want it so that we will search for it. We will need to follow the laws, commandments, judgments, statues and precepts that are recorded in God’s Word. We need to value and thank God for what He has provided and what He is teaching us in His Word. Then we will start to see the blesssedness of God’s Way.

Verses for Anxiety

There are many reasons we become anxious, but there is one source of help.  That source is God.  The following verses tell us about things that the Lord will do for people.  They contain promises that He will surely keep, but only those who truly delight in the Lord and His ways can claim them.  The verse Psalm 139:24 mentions a “hurtful way.”  The only thing that can hurt us permanently is sin, our own sin.  Jesus died on the cross for our sin, but only those who accept His death as payment for their sins have the hurtful way removed.  When we accept Jesus’ payment for our sin, we look to Him to give us victory over sin in our lives now.  I pray that reading these verses will encourage you to study the Bible to learn more about God so that you can trust Him in anxious times and understand His promises better.

 

When my anxious thoughts
multiply within me,
Your consolations
delight my soul.
Psalm 94:19

 

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me and know my anxious thoughts;
And see if there be any hurtful way in me,
And lead me in the everlasting way.
Psalm 139:23-24

 

Do not fear, for I am with you;
Do not anxiously look about you,
for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,
Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10

Be anxious for nothing,
but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving
let your requests be made known to God.
And the peace of God,
which surpasses all comprehension,
will guard your hearts and your minds
in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7

In the Beginning God

To be able to pray better or to trust God more, we need to know God better.  So to start learning about God, let’s start in Genesis.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:1

At the very beginning of the Bible we learn that God was there at the beginning.  For God to be there at the beginning means that He existed before the beginning.  That means that He is does not have a beginning.  He has always been.

Knowing that God has always been will help us to trust His knowledge.  He knows everything at least from the beginning of time to now.

The next thing that we learn is that God created.  He has skills and ability to make things.  The Hebrew word for created here has the meaning of making something new out of nothing.  People can create and make many things, but they need materials to make these things.  God is able to make things without having a materials list or even an instruction sheet.  Notice what God created – the heavens and the earth!  That is a very big project!

Knowing that God can create without using materials and can create such a vast amount shows us that God is powerful.  This is a level of creation no person can do.  Since God created the heavens and the earth, He has a knowledge about them that no person has.  He knows all about them, after all He made them.

 Then God said . . .
Genesis 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24. 26. 29

This part of a sentence tells us how God created.  He just spoke and the things were made.  Look at verse 3: Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.  God spoke, and the light came into existence.  These three words show us more about this powerful God.  This is the God we can look to for help!

God’s way of creating shows us something more about Him.  He is orderly.  He made certain things on certain days.  On the first day, He made light.  On the second, waters above the earth and waters on the earth.  On the third day, dry land and plants. On the fourth, sun, moon and stars.  On the fifth day, birds and fish; and on the sixth day, land animals and man and woman.

Order is a mark of God and His followers.  The God who actually began the concept of order can help us to gain order.  In troubled times, during chaos and confusion, we can go to Him and ask for help to order our lives.

God saw that it was good.
Genesis 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25, 31

These verse each have the idea that what God made was good.  Goodness is another wonderful attribute of God that we can trust in.  All that God does is good.  He can only do good.  There are other places in the Bible that help us to see how God is good in difficult situations, but here at this point in time when the world and universe was laid out in order and beauty, let us rejoice in a God who is truly good.

So in just a beginning look at this first chapter in the Bible we learn that God

• does not have a beginning
• has the ability to create
• has power to create without materials
• His words have power
• has detailed knowledge of the earth and heavens that only their creator could have
• is orderly
• is good
• can only do good

 

The Word of the Lord

Psalm 19 beginning in verse 7 can help us to learn about the Word of the Lord.

The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul;

The law of the Lord is His revealed will, which is what we read in the Bible.  We have encountered people’s wills – our own and others.  Those wills haven’t been perfect.  Most often there has been a problem, something that needed to be changed.  But God’s will is perfect and has always been perfect.  It is so perfect it can bring restoration of the most important part of our being – our eternal souls.

The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

The testimony of the Lord is His truth.  Testimonies of people haven’t always been the truth which causes us to be unsure at times on what to believe from people.  The testimony of the Lord is true so we can be sure, be confident, that what we read in the Bible is the truth.  This truth is so carefully stated that even the simple can be made wise by reading it.

The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;

Another word for precepts is instructions.  We have received instructions from people that have not been right; we may have even given some incorrect instructions ourselves.  God’s instructions are right.  If we follow them, we will be going the correct way.  There is a lot of joy in receiving instructions that you know you can accomplish.  Following God’s instructions, His precepts, can give us great cause for rejoicing.  They are always right and can be followed because the Holy Spirit who indwells all believers is there to help.

The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.

The commandment of the Lord is His authoritative word.  Words that we have received from human authorities may have been harsh, unkind or rude, but God’s words of authority are pure, very pure.  Hearing words from human authorities can bring a dark response in our minds because of confusion or emotional response.  God’s Words bring a light to the mind that leads to greater understanding.

The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;

To fear the Lord means to have a reverential trust.  There may have been people that we have respected, maybe even had a reverence towards, but then that person does something wrong or betrays a trust.  Now our thoughts towards this person are no longer reverence.  Thoughts of this person may even make us feel dirty.  A reverential fear of the Lord is clean always.  He cannot sin or dirty His name, and it is a cleanness that will last forever.

The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether.

The judgments or decisions of the Lord are true.  Judgments of people have been found to have errors in them.  The judgments may have been based on lies, bias or misinformation.  God’s judgments are true and righteous.  All of them are true and righteous, not just a few of them.

They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.

The remaining verses of the psalm tell us what the Word of the Lord will do for us.  It will give us warnings so that we can keep from wrong and do right.  Doing the Words of the Lord can bring rewards.  His Words will help us to find our own faults which will help us to not be controlled by sin.  God’s Word can bring forgiveness and a blameless life.  They provide for us something worth speaking about and thinking about.  They help us to be accepted by God, who desires to be our Redeemer.

How blessed are those whose way is blameless,
Who walk in the law of the Lord.
How blessed are those who observe His testimonies,
Who seek Him with all their heart.
Psalm 119:1-2

The Fear of the Lord

  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Proverbs 9:10

The fear of the Lord being wisdom is also mentioned in Job 28:28 and Psalm 111:10.

The fear of the Lord is to hate evil;
Pride and arrogance and the evil way
Proverbs 8:13

Because of Proverbs 8:13, a verse my husband has been reading to our children each day this week, I realized that there is a lot more to fearing the Lord than just being the first step to wisdom.

The fear of the Lord is associated with knowledge and the love of it and the love of instruction.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
Fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 1:7

The fear of the Lord is the instruction for wisdom,
And before honor comes humility.
Proverbs 15:33

The first reference to the fear of the Lord helps us to see that there are some actions and qualities that should be seen in our lives if we are fearing the Lord.

Now then let the fear of the Lord be upon you; be very careful what you do,
for the Lord our God will have no part in unrighteousness or partiality
or the taking of a bribe.
2 Chronicles 19:7

If we fear the Lord, we will be careful what we do and will have nothing to do with unrighteousness, favoritism or bribery.  We will also demonstrate a hatred for evil, pride, arrogance and wrong speech.  We won’t be envying sinners.

The fear of the Lord is to hate evil;
Pride and arrogance and the evil way
Proverbs 8:13

Do not let your heart envy sinners,
But live in the fear of the Lord always.
Proverbs 23:7

The fear of the Lord will help us to avoid sin and evil ways, which is a blessing since it is hard to do right sometimes.  We can depend on the Lord to be our help.

By lovingkindness and truth iniquity is atoned for,
And by the fear of the Lord one keeps away from evil.
Proverbs 16:6

A person who fears the Lord is blessed and has life.  This life is satisfactory and brings peace of heart and mind.  This life that is benefited by the fear of the Lord is primarily the spiritual life.   This is important because our spiritual life is eternal and should be strong in the ways of God which is a benefit to our physical life now and our relationship with God for all eternity.

How blessed is everyone who fears the Lord,
Who walks in His ways.
Psalm 128:1

The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
That one may avoid the snares of death.
Proverbs 14:27

The fear of the Lord prolongs life,
But the years of the wicked will be shortened.
Proverbs 10:27

The fear of the Lord leads to life,
So that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil.
Proverbs 19:23

In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence,
And his children will have refuge.
Proverbs 14:26

 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria
enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord
and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.
Acts 9:31

There are blessings to those who faithfully and wholeheartedly fear the Lord
(2 Chronicles 19:9).  The fear of the Lord is associated with humility, and both lead to  God-given rewards.

The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord
Are riches, honor and life.
Proverbs 22:4

The fear of the Lord is a treasure to help us have stability in our unstable times.

And He will be the stability of your times,
A wealth of salvation, wisdom and knowledge;
The fear of the Lord is his treasure.
Isaiah 33:6

There are consequences for not having the fear of the Lord in our lives.

Then they will call on me, but I will not answer;
They will seek me diligently but they will not find me,
Because they hated knowledge
And did not choose the fear of the Lord.
Proverbs 1:28-29

Finding the fear of the Lord and how to demonstrate it in our lives takes discernment.  This means that it is not always to seen and understood.  We will need to spend time studying the Bible and praying for guidance to be able to find how to make the fear of the Lord real in our lives.

If you seek her as silver
And search for her as for hidden treasures;
 Then you will discern the fear of the Lord
And discover the knowledge of God.
Proverbs 2:4-5

 

 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men,
but we are made manifest to God;
and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences.
2 Corinthians 5:11

Because of the fear of the Lord in our lives we are manifest or known to God.  Fearing the Lord is part of the confirmation that we have that we are Christians.  Praying a prayer is not enough.  We need a close and growing relationship with God now and continuing for all eternity.  The fear of the Lord will help us to have that.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the continuing manifestation of God in our lives.  It is the means by which we can tell others about Him.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
A good understanding have all those who do His commandments;
His praise endures forever.
Psalm 111:10

Echoes of Christmas – Obedience

When I read the Christmas story, I am struck by the obedience of the people involved in the story.

Consider them:
Zacharias – he doubted the angel’s message, yet John was born in due time.

Mary – she could have refused to be the mother of Christ.  She had no forewarning of her role in God’s plan, but she did not approach it lightly.  She declared herself “a bondslave of the Lord” (Luke 1:38).  Her beautiful Magnificat in Luke 1:46-55 is all about God and He dealings with mankind.

Joseph – he thought about sending Mary away and not marrying her.  Instead he obeyed the instructions that he was given and married her and named the baby Jesus.  He also obeyed when he told to take his little family to Egypt to save Jesus’ life.  Later he obeyed again and took his family to Nazareth (Matthew 2:13-23).

Joseph and Mary – they followed the law and brought Jesus to the temple to present Him before the Lord.  While they were there, Simeon blessed them.  Because they obeyed they received the blessing (Luke 2:34)

The shepherds – imagine looking for a baby in a manger!  Pretty ridiculous sounding, yet these men followed the instructions that they were given and found the Messiah.

The wise men – in their journey to find the king, they received instructions from two different men – a worldly king (Mat. 2:8) and the King of kings (Mat. 2:12).  They chose to follow God’s instructions.  We don’t know anything else about these men, but we do know that their deaths were not caused by Herod.

We can learn from the obedience of these people.  From Zacharias we learn to not allow ourselves to be hindered by doubts.  Mary’s story reminds us that our obedience should bring us closer to God.  Joseph helps us to see that the first step of obedience makes the next step easier.  The shepherds’ story points out the obedience brings blessing.  The importance of following the right instructor is the lesson from the wise men.

The obedience of these people who are part of the Christmas story gives us some insight into the life of Jesus Himself.  His life was one of obedience.  He said,

For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will,
but the will of Him who sent Me.
John 6:38

We admonished to follow His example.

For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you,
leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps
1 Peter 2:21

 

Echoes of Christmas – Do Not Be Afraid

Three individuals and one group of people were told to not be afraid.

First, Zacharias
 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John.”
Luke 1:13

Second, Mary
 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God.”
Luke 1:30

Third, Joseph
But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.”
Matthew 1:20

Fourth, the shepherds
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people”
Luke 2:10

The Christmas story is a reminder that Christians do not need to be afraid.  They can trust God and know that He will only do what is best for us.  If we are following His will for our lives, as these people did, we will not need to be afraid.

All things may not be easy.  Consider Zacharias.  He was unable to speak for awhile.  That could not have been an easy situation.  Notice the difference between what he said when the angel spoke to him and what he said after John was born and his voice was restored to him (Luke 1:1-20, 64-79).  This trial that he went through helped him to understand God better and to be in a better relationship with God.  That is what the hard times are supposed to help a Christian to do – build a closer relationship with God Himself.  If we can trust the Lord completely, we will see that we do not need to be afraid.

‘Do not fear, for I am with you;
Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,
Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
Isaiah 41:10