Batach Again

 Pr 29:25 ¶ The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.

     I think the most common fear I struggle with is fear of man.  It's subtle, somehow my day is shaped by the expectations of others and I get anxious to do what I think will be accepted by others.  My work performance, what my kids want for dinner, how my husband will think the house looks when he gets home--all day I am bombarded with what others will want and what they will think of me. It's not wrong to do a good job, make your kids happy and keep the house clean.  It is wrong to let my life focus to be based on what people will think of me, and what I can do to please them.

 Living for others to love me is a wrong type of fear that brings a lot of heartache--anxiety, disappointment, confusion over priorities, and depression.  It keeps you from hearing from God what he wants you do and focusing on that.  And, once again, fear is a twisted form of worship-it is trusting (in this case) the opinions of others more than trusting the love of God for me.

The second half of this verse is the antidote for fear of man: "whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe."  "Trust" here is that word from my blog of the other day, "Batach" which means  to hide for refuge, to trust, be confident or sure:--be bold (confident, secure, sure), careless (one, woman), put confidence, (make to) hope, (put, make to) trust.

  Trusting in God means I may not please everyone, but I trust His love for me.  My confidence comes not from keeping everyone happy, but from my relationship with God.  I trust Him and do what HE tells me to do, regardless if it keeps the world happy.

The result is that I am "safe".  That word means "lofty" "inaccessible" and "strong".  If I am truly trusting in the Lord, I am going to be high above the fears that people won't like me, or that I am rejected for my bad hair, or rough day at work.   The cacophony of anxious thoughts about the people around me will sound very distant. Peace will return to me as I sit quietly in God's presence.

And I will not have my head in the noose of fear of man.  YAY!