“… His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.” (Psalm 91:4)
Sometimes, what we think we heard hasn’t been said, what we think we’ve seen isn’t there. We imagine enemies where there are none. A spirit of fear can have us fleeing when no one is chasing us. (Prov. 28:1) It can have us throwing spears at innocent shepherd boys. It can have us anxious and afraid when there is no cause for it. “There were they in great fear, where no fear was …” (Psalm 53:5)
God has not given us a spirit of fear. (2 Tim. 1:7) A spirit of fear is a judgment upon those who don’t maintain a passionate love of the truth. (2 Thes. 2:10-12) The Lord is a “God of truth.” (Deut. 32:4) His truth is to be our shield and our buckler. He expects us to: “Buy the truth, and sell it not.” (Prov. 23:23) When it comes to our dealings with each other He wants us to diligently seek out the truth in every matter and not walk in the imaginations or speculations of our own minds. Just because we think something doesn’t mean it’s the truth. We can be wise in our own conceits. If we are not careful, the “truth” we hold to can be at best our own opinion and at worst a devilish lie.
Justice and judgment are the habitation of God’s throne: mercy and truth go before His face. (Ps. 89:14) He requires His people not to judge after the sight of their eyes, nor reprove after the hearing of their ears; but to judge righteous judgment. (Isa. 11:3; John 7:24) Peace will never be upon us or in our ways when we “turn aside to lies.” (Ps. 40:4) We cannot be peacemakers unless we are committed to the truth; not our “truth,” not someone else’s “truth,” but God’s truth.
Don’t play with your mental health. Don’t live in a world of illusion. The consequence of not diligently seeking and finding God’s truth is a delusional, unsound mind. Fear has torment (1 John 4:18). Protect yourself. Walk in a sound mind, shielded by the truth.