Yesterday, I’m standing at my favorite gas station … the one that declares it’s faith boldly by pumping Christian music to each island. As I was filling my tank with gas, my eyes started filling with tears as the words of the song playing washed over me. It’s one of my favorites, Voice of Truth by Casting Crowns.

I could dissect each line of this song. Each time I hear it, a different truth is spoken to me. Yesterday I hear:

But the voice of truth tells me a different story
The voice of truth says, “Do not be afraid!”
And the voice of truth says, “This is for My glory”
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I would choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

But backing up further to when I got out of bed yesterday morning, this is the truth I was repeating to myself:

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand
Isaiah 41:10 NLT

And to drive the point home further to me … at church during worship we sang this truth:

And I will fear no evil
For my God is with me
And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear?
Whom then shall I fear?

Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me
Matt Redman, You Never Let Go

In full disclosure … I’m afraid. I was afraid to land at the airport. I spent this past weekend afraid to open my front door. I’m afraid of this coming week. And I’m afraid of what the next few weeks might hold for my family’s future.

Fear is also creeping in about what the “world” thinks of me.

Yes. I’m afraid. Terrified really.

But that’s my voice of truth. It’s loud. And it’s screaming inside of me and beginning to drown out the real Voice of Truth.

I’m preparing for the battle of my life … of my family’s life … and I can’t do it on my own. I need to put on all of the armor God’s made available to me {Ephesians 6:12-19}.

Theologically, I know the promises of His Word. I know I have nothing to fear. I know He is with me.

But my spirit? My spirit is weak … and full of fear.

Have you ever found yourself feeling this way? You know, and believe what God tells us. But sometimes … sometimes the outside noise gets so loud, you can’t hear the real Truth?

That’s where I’m at. I need to shut off the noise around me and close myself in with the Truth.

I need to quiet myself, my spirit, my surroundings as Psalm 46:10 sweetly reminds me … “be still and know that I am God.”

I’ll be spending this week and possibly the next few, arming myself for the battle of my life.