I get spooked all the time these days. A young girl kidnapped and held captive for 18 years.  A Yale student murdered in a campus building. Seems like the headlines are crawling with frightening stories that reflect the dark side of human behavior. Sometimes it makes me want to hole up inside my house and avoid people all together.

I know that’s not the answer.

David, who took on lions and bears (and won), admitted that he was afraid of certain people. In Psalm 59, he said, “Rescue me from these criminals; save me from these murderers…I have done nothing wrong, yet they prepare to attack me.”

Interestingly, David’s fear became a platform for praise. In the moments when he was shaking in his sandals, his thoughts were on God. Here are some of David’s praises and what they mean for us when we are afraid:

• You are my strength (v.9) means God will empower us to face our enemies.
• I wait for you to rescue me (v.9) means we can be confident that God will take care of us.
• My God will stand with me (v.10) means we are not alone.
• I will sing about your power (v.16) means we should focus on God’s power more than the enemy’s wickedness.
• You have been my refuge, a place of safety (v.16) means God has kept us safe in the past.
• You are the God who shows me unfailing love (v.17) means God’s perfect love casts out all of our fear.

Don’t be afraid to praise God in the face of the enemy—even if the enemy is fear itself.