Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.
Proverbs 29:25 NIV
In the original Hebrew language, the word snare in Proverbs 29:25 is the word mokashe, and it means “trap.” No one wants to fall into a trap, but that is exactly what allowing the fear of people to rule us will do. Fearing what they think, fearing their retribution, fearing their shame, or fearing their judgment. Fear gives others the ability to control us.
Maybe you can relate. Maybe you have allowed the fear of others to cause you to choose a poor path, turn down a job offer, reject a marriage proposal, or run from a promotion.
Matthew Henry has something beautiful to say about fearing those who are no greater than ourselves: “Abraham, for fear of man, denied his wife, Peter his Master, and many a one his God and religion. We are encouraged to depend upon the power of God, which would keep us from all that fear of man which has either torment or temptation in it.”
When we trust God instead of allowing the fear of others to rule us, then we will be able to say with confidence, “If God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid.”
Lord, help me to live for an audience of one. Help me to know that I need to focus on pleasing You and then give me courage and strength to say yes to You. Amen.
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Today’s reading was adapted from Daily Wisdom for Women: 2017 Devotional Collection with permission from Barbour Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Reading was written by Shana Schutte.