From Worry to Confidence: Letting God Rescue Your Outlook
- Jack Selcher
- Aug 21, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
Summary
Worry distorts reality just as fog obscures vision. In Psalm 3, David shifted his focus from overwhelming threats to the faithful God who protects, honors, and sustains. When he looked upward, fear lost its power and confidence returned. Trusting the Lord freed David from anxiety and assured him of victory. The same upward focus brings believers security, courage, and freedom in Christ today.
How Small Worries Create Big Fear
The Bureau of Standards in Washington, D.C., tells us a dense fog covering seven city blocks, one hundred feet deep, contains less than one glass of water.1 A little water can cause big problems!
Similarly, a cup of worry is composed of tiny drops of fretfulness. Like fog, they block our ability to see reality. Our focus determines whether anxiety or security will characterize our lives.
When Problems Dominate Our Focus
Focusing on problems discourages us. David composed Psalm 3 as he fled from Absalom, his son.
At first, David saw only problems. Would-be David crushers were increasing. The rumor was that God had abandoned him.
David’s opponents were saying in effect, “Only God can help you now, and He is not about to.” Initially, David thought they might be right.
David’s Shift from Fear to Faith
Ultimately, David’s “up look” rescued his outlook. He transferred his attention from the problems to the One who can solve them.
The Lord as Shield, Glory, and Help
When he looked to God, he found all he needed. The Lord was his shield. He completely protected him.
The Lord was his glory. Glory describes the honor of serving God, who is honorable, impressive, and worthy of respect.
The Lord lifted David’s head high. That symbolized glory and exaltation.
Letting God Rescue Your Outlook
The Lord answered his prayer for deliverance. David found encouragement because the Lord was his shield, his glory, the One who lifted his head, and the One who answered his prayer for deliverance. Letting God rescue your outlook makes all the difference.
As a kid, I pulled the covers over my head in bed because I feared a monster might appear. I was tense because of an imaginary enemy.
Henry Nouwen said, “Most of us people of the twentieth century live in the house of fear most of the time. It has become an obvious dwelling place, an acceptable basis on which to make our decisions and plan our lives.”2
Nothing has changed in the twenty-first century. Fear underlies the deep political divisions that currently plague the United States.
By contrast, David felt secure because the Lord sustained him. His confidence and security rested in the Lord’s trustworthiness.
How well would we sleep if we knew just one person was trying to kill us, let alone a multitude? The good news is that when we fear the Lord, we need to fear nothing else.
The truth about God’s faithfulness and trustworthiness set David free. He said, “Arise, Lord” (3:7 NIV). “Arise” was frequently used in the context of war.
Victory Through Trust in the Lord
When God is on our side, victory is sure. David’s enemies were like monsters with teeth. Breaking their teeth meant robbing them of their power.
David was not content with anything less than victory over his problems and a blessed life for his people. Let us not settle for less than victory over our problems and the fullness of abundant life in Jesus Christ—a life of encouragement, security, and freedom.
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