By Joanie Yoder, Our Daily Bread Writer

PHOTO: Psalm 138
before the “gods” I will sing your praise.
I will bow down toward your holy temple
and will praise your name
for your love and faithfulness,
for you have exalted above all things
and your name and your word.
When I called, you answered me;
you made me bold and stouthearted..
May all the kings of the earth praise you, O Lord,
when they hear the words of your mouth.
May they sing of the ways of the Lord,
for the glory of the Lord is great.
Though the Lord is on high, he looks upon the lowly;
but the proud, he knows from afar.
Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life.
You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes;
with your right hand you save me.
The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;
your love, O Lord, endures forever —
do not abandon the works of your hands.
When our missionary work took Bill from home for weeks at a time, I began to depend on myself instead of Bill. Feeling even more inadequate, I reduced the risks of life whenever possible and lived within a cocoon of anxiety, even being afraid to go out in public.
Finally, at rock bottom, I followed David's example in Psalm 138:3. He said, "When I called, you answered me, you made me bold and stouthearted." I too cried out and God answered me. His answer gave me the understanding and strength to crack open the cocoon of fear and begin spreading my wings in dependence on God. Slowly but surely He made me a bold servant at Bill's side.
Years later, when Bill died, I recognized how compassionately God had dealt with my earlier fear: "What if one day I don't have Bill any more?" Instead of removing my fear, God gave me the strength and ability to face it. And He will enable you as you depend on Him.
- Joanie Yoder
https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/80/d6/cf/80d6cfa85c5cf7e8c4989b7d0abee3cb.jpg
https://de.pinterest.com/pin/428475352066075906/
before the “gods” I will sing your praise.
I will bow down toward your holy temple
and will praise your name
for your love and faithfulness,
for you have exalted above all things
and your name and your word.
When I called, you answered me;
you made me bold and stouthearted..
May all the kings of the earth praise you, O Lord,
when they hear the words of your mouth.
May they sing of the ways of the Lord,
for the glory of the Lord is great.
Though the Lord is on high, he looks upon the lowly;
but the proud, he knows from afar.
Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life.
You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes;
with your right hand you save me.
The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;
your love, O Lord, endures forever —
do not abandon the works of your hands.
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/a3/7d/83/a37d8322ba01006fde7331eea92d5f22.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/23221754324196725/

PHOTO: After Bill and I married, I became overly dependent on him rather than depending on God for my security and strength, feeling very inadequate and fearful, secretly I worried, "What if one day I don't have Bill any more?"
Picture posted by Tatyana🥀 Ornisana
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJtAFURKa28bb-NBDGFLY5KzgmwLpO7IRH_Tb2ZGae3JYxaReYqrYo8LV3y8_H-PU9TkleyFfb_ObiYWWQkoeUzI19CvZ8VZ5XJG9oos1P2YFws5d0wBYuN7brl_tllVkX1LRqvKIuNmeQp4AM_hNzQN6_NDt-bbL78LLnHdngrwHprHXgM-pyW3dVNr0/s1884/4c55ed5aca5b1f358504b87bc0ce41fc_1.png
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When our missionary work took Bill from home for weeks at a time, I began to depend on myself instead of Bill. Feeling even more inadequate, I reduced the risks of life whenever possible and lived within a cocoon of anxiety, even being afraid to go out in public.

PHOTO: When our missionary work took Bill from home for weeks at a time, I began to depend on myself instead of Bill. Feeling even more inadequate, I reduced the risks of life whenever possible and lived within a cocoon of anxiety, even being afraid to go out in public.
Picture posted by saharah leo
https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/d7/fe/6d/d7fe6d3e8896272e7b23d045e9f63d5a.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/8092474326710080/
Finally, at rock bottom, I followed David's example in Psalm 138:3. He said, "When I called, you answered me, you made me bold and stouthearted." I too cried out and God answered me. His answer gave me the understanding and strength to crack open the cocoon of fear and begin spreading my wings in dependence on God. Slowly but surely He made me a bold servant at Bill's side.

PHOTO: Finally, at rock bottom, I followed David's example in Psalm 138:3. He said, "When I called, you answered me, you made me bold and stouthearted." I too cried out and God answered me. His answer gave me the understanding and strength to crack open the cocoon of fear and begin spreading my wings in dependence on God. Slowly but surely He made me a bold servant at Bill's side.
Picture posted by Janna
https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/4a/ec/8b/4aec8b88a4fdf332b0610862e413a24c.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/643592602977110323/
Years later, when Bill died, I recognized how compassionately God had dealt with my earlier fear: "What if one day I don't have Bill any more?" Instead of removing my fear, God gave me the strength and ability to face it. And He will enable you as you depend on Him.
- Joanie Yoder

PHOTO: Years later, when Bill died, I recognized how compassionately God had dealt with my earlier fear: "What if one day I don't have Bill any more?" Instead of removing my fear, God gave me the strength and ability to face it. And He will enable you as you depend on Him.
Picture posted by Broken Heart
https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/3c/de/58/3cde5836e8bed8a492c5ce6f9f2a0a11.jpg
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/133067363990022386/

PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we pray that we recognize how compassionately God had dealt with our earlier fear. Instead of removing our fear, God gave us the strength and ability to face it. And He will enable us to become bold and stouthearted as we depend on Him.
Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen."
Picture posted by My Jesus
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Reflection - Psalm 138 - Facing My Fears
Source (book): "My Soul Thirsts For God", Reflections on the Psalms from Our Daily Bread, Psalm 138, "Facing My Fears", Page 172.
By Joanie Yoder, Our Daily Bread Writer

Reflection - Faithful to the end (Links)
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2017/06/reflection-faithful-to-end-links.html
"Finding rest for the soul" Responding to Jesus' Invitation in Matthew 11:28-29, © 2016 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - Finding rest for the soul (Links)
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2018/10/reflection-finding-rest-for-soul-links.html
"God in Pursuit" Lessons from the Book of Jonah, © 2016 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART I-III, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2019/08/reflection-god-in-pursuit-links-part-i.html
"God in Pursuit" Lessons from the Book of Jonah, © 2016 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART IV, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2019/08/reflection-god-in-pursuit-links-part-iv.html
"Songs of Christmas", The Stories and Significance of 20 Well-Loved Carols, © 2018 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - Songs of Christmas (Links), posted on Friday, 24 April 2020
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/04/reflection-songs-of-christmas-links.html
"Growing Old Gracefully", Following Jesus to the End, © 2019 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - Growing Old Gracefully, Part I - III (Links), posted on Wednesday, 09 December 2020
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/12/reflection-growing-old-gracefully-part.html

Reflection - Growing Old Gracefully, Part IV - V (Links), posted on Thursday, 22 April 2021
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/12/reflection-growing-old-gracefully-part_9.html
"Teach Us to Number Our Days", © 2008 by David Roper

Reflection - Number Our Days, Chapter 1 - 40 (Links), posted on Tuesday, 16 November 2021
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/11/reflection-number-our-days-chapter-1-40.html

Reflection - Number Our Days, Chapter 41 - 64 (Links), posted on Wednesday, 16 March 2022
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2022/03/reflection-number-our-days-chapter-41.html
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2022/08/reflection-he-walks-with-me-links.html
"Classic Gem: Timeless Devotions from Our Daily Bread Authors", Copyright © 2021 by Our Daily Bread Ministries

Reflection - Classic Gem, Chapter 1 - 45 (Links), posted on 03 April 2023
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2023/04/reflection-classic-gem-chapter-1-45.html
"Classic Gem: Timeless Devotions from Our Daily Bread Authors", Copyright © 2021 by Our Daily Bread Ministries

Reflection - Classic Gem, Chapter 46 - 90 (Links), posted on Tuesday, 24 October 2023
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2023/10/reflection-classic-gem-chapter-46-90.html
"Making All Things New", 52 Reflections to Challenge the Way You Live, Copyright @ 2022 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - Making All Things New, Chapter 1 - 28 (Links), posted on Saturday, 04 August 2024
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2024/08/reflection-making-all-things-new.html
"Making All Things New", 52 Reflections to Challenge the Way You Live, Copyright @ 2022 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - Making All Things New, Chapter 29 - 52 (Links), posted on Saturday, 15 March 2025
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2025/03/reflection-making-all-things-new.html

Reflection - My Soul Thirsts For God, Verse 1 - 46 (Links) on Monday, 25 August 2025
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2025/08/reflection-my-soul-thirsts-for-god.html
New International Version (NIV), Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Psalm 138:3 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20138%3A3&version=NIV
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