Do Not Fear
READ: Psalm 46
Keith clutched his pole tightly. This was the first time he was ever pole vaulting at a meet. He had been doing well. So far, he has cleared 10 feet, which is the highest he ever vaulted. Keith started to get nervous. He now had to vault 10'6". It suddenly looked higher then what it actually was, and the fall into the foam pits looked longer and longer. It wasn't really the fall that Keith was worried about. It was all of the other things that could go wrong with a vault. Missing the pit and landing on the ground, having the pole land on top of you, or any number of other things. Keith felt like he wanted to quit.
Then Keith's coach came up beside him and told him, "Remember what I told you in practice. Pray that you have a good vault and land safely in the pits. God will help you." Keith remembered a verse he read at school in Psalm 46. It said, "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." He said a little prayer and got ready. He sprinted towards the pit and planted his pole in the box. The pole launched him up and over the crossbar with only a few centimeters to spare. As Keith landed safely in the pits, he prayed, "Thank you, Lord!"
We can learn a lot from this story. How many times have you felt that you needed someone to help and there was no one around? Whenever you need help, you can ask God to help you. Whether the situation is life-threatening or trivial, God will answer your calls for help. You can also go to God when you feel afraid. He tells us, "Do not fear for I am with you, do not be dismayed for I am your God." You need not be afraid at all, because God is there for you. Psalm 46 says, "Therefore we will not fear, though the earth gives way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea." What a comfort to be surrounded by God's presence!
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT: Remember a time when you needed help and God helped you? Are there times when you became afraid but God still helped you? Have you ever had problems and tried to solve them yourself? What happened?
PRAYER SUGGESTIONS: Ask God that you remember Him in your times of need. Pray that you won't be afraid of things because God will help you through it.