DAILY TEXT, Thursday, May 29, 2025, When I am afraid, I put my trust in you (Ps. 56:3).

Let's Examine the Scriptures Every Day 2025

Thursday, May 29, 2025

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you (Ps. 56:3).

We all feel fear from time to time. For example, when King Saul was pursuing David to kill him, he fled to a Philistine city called Gath. When Achish, the king of Gath, was told that David was a mighty warrior and had killed “tens of thousands” of Philistines, David “was greatly afraid” (1 Sam. 21:10–12). He was worried about what the king might do to him. What did David do to overcome his fears? In Psalm 56, he shared how he felt while he was in Gath. In that psalm, he openly explained why he was afraid and what helped him overcome his fears: trusting in Jehovah (Ps. 56:1–3, 11). And he was very fortunate for that decision. With Jehovah’s blessing, David came up with a plan that might have seemed strange: he pretended to be crazy. And it worked! In Achish’s eyes, David went from being a threat to just a nuisance. So David took advantage of the opportunity to escape (1 Sam. 21:13–22:1). w24.01 2 pars. 1–3.

What happened when David arrived in Gath?

Let's think about a servant of God who sometimes felt afraid. This is David. When King Saul was pursuing him to kill him, he fled to a Philistine city called Gath. When Achish, the king of Gath, was told that David was a mighty warrior and had killed "tens of thousands" of Philistines, David "was greatly afraid" (1 Sam. 21:10-12). He was deeply worried about what the king might do to him. What did David do to overcome his fears?

According to Psalm 56:1-3, 11, What helped David overcome his fears?

In Psalm 56, David shared how he felt while in Gath. In that psalm, he openly explained why he was afraid and what helped him overcome his fears: trusting in Jehovah. (Read Psalm 56:1–3, 11.) And he was very fortunate for that decision. With Jehovah’s blessing, David came up with a plan that might have seemed strange: he pretended to be crazy. And it worked! In Achish’s eyes, David went from being a threat to just being a nuisance. So David took advantage of the opportunity to escape. (1 Sam. 21:13–22:1)

How can we strengthen our trust in Jehovah? Give an example.

Trust in Jehovah can also help us overcome fear. But how can we strengthen our trust in Jehovah, especially when we are afraid? Let's take an example. If we are diagnosed with an illness, we may be frightened at first. But having the confidence that we are in the hands of a good doctor will surely help us feel more at ease. Perhaps he has treated many other patients with the same illness in the past. Perhaps he is listening very carefully now, and we can tell that he truly understands how we feel. And perhaps he tells us that he is going to give us a treatment that has helped others a lot. It's similar with Jehovah: We will trust him more if we think about what he has already done, what he is doing now, and what he will do for us. That's what David did in Psalm 56. As we examine some of its verses, let's consider how we too can strengthen our trust in Jehovah and overcome our fears.

What did David meditate on to overcome his fear? (Psalm 56:12, 13)

Even though David’s life was in danger, he focused on the good things Jehovah had done in the past. (Read Psalm 56:12, 13.) David did this throughout his life. For example, he sometimes meditated on Jehovah’s creation, reminding him that he is very powerful and that he loves humans. (Ps. 65:6-9) He also reflected on what Jehovah had done for others. (Ps. 31:19; 37:25, 26) He especially spent time thinking about what Jehovah had done for him. He had helped and protected him since he was a baby. (Ps. 22:9, 10) No doubt meditating on all this helped David to trust in Jehovah with all his heart.

All Rights Reserved Copyright © 2024 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania JW.ORG.