Proverbs 29:25 “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.”
A snare’s purpose is to catch prey. Fearing what others think of me, fear of rejection, fear of people in power, fear of being hated for following Jesus (see Luke 21:17) – these will all trap me. But I find freedom and true safety when I trust God. I must be conscious at all times of the temptation to compromise truth, to be grim, to take a bunker mentality, to lose a sense of adventure and joy in my work, in my life, in society. Instead, I must take on challenges and pursue the goals God puts before me, stepping out in courage with confidence in him.
Father, I trust you. You keep me my soul safe, no matter the risk you call me into. I am here, eager to follow wherever you lead. Whether radical change or incremental, I only ask that your will be done in my life.