We live in a world where trials come at us from all sides. Sometimes they come from within us. We see the obstacles and the difficulties. We look back at our own failures which haunt us with fear and sorrow. “If only” becomes a theme. Our hearts faint with the thoughts of our own inadequacies. Yet so often we fail to look at the one true source of strength—the Lord is my Rock. He who chose me before the earth was ever formed, knew me even then. With all my failures and inadequacies, He loved me and came to give His life so I might be His beloved bride. To know strength in God through trials with freedom from fear I only look to my Lord who is the horn of my salvation, my buckler and my high tower.
Of all days, Mother’s Day reminds me of His Grace through it all. When I recall my inadequacies as a daughter to truly understand my mother or show her all the love she deserved, I weep buckets of tears. Or to recall all the times I failed as a mother. Yet through it all it has been the Lord who is my rock and my fortress. He is my deliverer and my strength. When I see my children, I see the fullness of His grace. Despite my fumbling, He has led each of them to Himself. It is for that reason; I urge you to read Psalm 18 alongside I Samuel 2 and II Samuel 22. God has placed these words in His word repeatedly so we might understand He is our true source. We can truly know strength in God through trials and have full freedom from fear.
No enemy can ever defeat us who know Him as Lord.
Know Strength in God through Trials with Freedom from Fear as David did
Psalm 18 was written as per its inscription when David was first installed as King after so many years running and hiding from Saul. God had anointed David many years prior, but Saul in jealously tried to kill him. Hiding in caves, waiting upon God; David had learned who was His strength. He began the psalm with a heartfelt declaration of His love for the Lord who was His strength.
Many years later in II Samuel 22, near the end of his life, he again sang this song with little change. However, by then, King David realized he was incapable of loving God with the full depths he had declared he would. The more we know of God’s Grace and Love for us, the more we recognize our own inability to love adequately though we desire to love Him as He loves us.
During those years, David had failed God many times. Not only as King, but also as a father. Perhaps it was his own failures that prevented him from adequately guiding his sons. Examples set. Thoughts rampant with the doubts and shame sin leaves behind in its wake. With his own sin ever before him, he failed to punish Amnon after he had raped his sister. Bitterness then grew between Absalom and Amnon resulting in Absalom ordering his brother’s death. This resulted in the exile of Absalom who later overtook his father David’s throne for a time. David had to run for his life again.
Yet, God in his grace restored David. God chose Solomon to succeed David in the line of Kings leading to the true King Jesus. He also promised David that He, the Lord, would never take His spirit from Solomon. King Solomon did fail God for a time as well. God kept His promise.
It is ALL About God and Him Alone
To Know Strength in God through Trials with Freedom from Fear is all about grace and God’s unconditional love for us, His power and His strength. It is not about our ability to love Him, though that truth should break our heart with love for Him as well. That is when we truly recognize His love for us. Peter learned this fact only after He denied Christ three times. Then, Jesus called Peter aside to ask, “Do you love me with an Agape (God like love) to which Peter replied, “Not as I should, but I love you with all that I am able to which is so inadequate compared to yours”. We must not think too highly of our abilities. Only when we come to the end of ourselves can we truly give Him our hearts fully.
That was the case with Hannah as well. Her prayer in I Samuel 2 is very similar to that of David’s prayer. She was bitter, depressed, and not fully surrendered to God at first when we read I Samuel 1. Then, finally after praying, weeping bitterly, she surrendered to God’s will. Accepting whatever the future might bring, only then did she conceive and bear a son. Samuel went on to become the most influential priest, judge, and prophet. As such, we got a glimpse (though imperfect glimpse) of our priest, judge, and prophet King Jesus. Samuel went on to anoint both Saul and David as King.
Know Strength in God Through Trials with Freedom from Fear I Samuel 2: 1-10
And Hannah prayed, and said, “My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, mine horn is exalted in the Lord: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God. Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength.
They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble. The Lord killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and he hath set the world upon them.
He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail. The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the Lord shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.
Psalm 18: 3-18 The Lord is All Powerful Giving Freedom from Fear
I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me. In my distress I called upon the Lord and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.
Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth. There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it. He bowed the heavens also and came down: and darkness was under his feet. And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind. He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies. At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire.
The Lord also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire. Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them. Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O Lord, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils. He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me. They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the Lord was my stay.
Why Would God Do That for Me?
David makes it very clear that to know strength in God through trials and freedom from fear is the result of God’s grace. Please note carefully these verses. Psalm 18:19-29
Note commentary in parenthesis are my words.
19 He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.
(Why? He delighted in me-not because of anything I have done. It is by Grace Alone through faith alone in Christ alone).
20-21 The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me. For I have kept the ways of the Lord and have not wickedly departed from my God.
(Though I have failed, I did not do so with malice toward God nor deliberate defiance. At times I lied to myself to cover my sinful desires as not so bad. But never did I purposely walk away. Always I wanted to follow Him. Despite this I failed so often because I wanted to do it by my own strength to prove to Him of my love. Surrender was not in my vocabulary at times. If only I would try harder. Then God would see how much I loved Him. Funny, how we want to gain Him by works. But when we realize we cannot; then, and only then does He take full control).
22-24 For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me. I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity. Therefore, hath the Lord recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.
(His eyesight is the key. My righteousness is covered by the blood of Christ. David’s was as well, although he looked forward to the Messiah and we look back to the completed work on the cross. I am accounted as righteous in his eyes because I am cloaked in the righteousness of Christ. When God the Father looks at me. He sees the completed work of Christ covering my sin.)
25-27 With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright; With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward. For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks. For thou wilt light my candle: the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness. For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.
(Only you Lord can transform my darkness into light. I cannot. Therefore, I plead you shine your light so I might see. This I know you do through your word. The study of your word and communion through prayer are what you call me to do. You do the rest.)
Because of all this, I can know strength in God through trials with Freedom from Fear
Look what David wrote in Psalm 18: 29-45
For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him. For who is God save the Lord? or who is a rock save our God? It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.
He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet, and setteth me upon my high places. He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms. Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great. Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed. I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet.
For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me. Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me. They cried, but there was none to save them: even unto the Lord, but he answered them not. Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets.
Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; and thou hast made me the head of the heathen: a people whom I have not known shall serve me. As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me. The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places.
As David Concluded: Psalm 18:46-50
The Lord liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted. It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me. He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man. Therefore, will I give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name. Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore.
We know strength in God through trials and freedom from fear because He has said,
Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away. Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. Isaiah 41:9-13
So how do we live our lives to know strength in God through trials and freedom from fear?
- Trust Him
- Remember His kindnesses to you
- Recall the salvation by grace He provided for you
- Read His word, both morning and night—let it start and end each day
- Pray continuously. Instead of listening to your voice all day long, talk with Him.
- Never forget, this world is not your home. You are merely passing through.
- All things work together for good to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28-29
Of course, this is true only if you know Him as Lord and Savior of your life. If not today is the day of Salvation.
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.
Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.
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©Effie Darlene Barba, 2025
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Please note: This post only has quotes from the KJV Bible.
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