Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.
If you have ever laid a trap for a rodent, you know that they are sneaky things – traps try to lure a pesty animal with something tasty so it can be captured. And so it is a clever metaphor Solomon presents us with in this proverb.
We are created to be relational beings, but when friendships or relationships take God’s place we can find ourselves caught in a snare. From caring too much about what other people think of you, to choosing to act in a way that you know will please others, to compromising who you are in order to seek attention or affirmation from someone else. Anxiety levels are at an all time high; so much of modern life puts a great emphasis on performance – how we are perceived to be.
The only way to escape this trap is by asking the Lord to help us – to chose to believe that He is the ultimate safe place, and that our reputations are hidden in Him.
Heavenly Father, please help me today recognize areas of my life where I am snared by sin and ways of this world. Please help me – remove the chains of the expectations of others, the thoughts of others and my fears of what others think. Help me choose to trust in You as my refuge, that your thoughts of me matter so much more than those of any man or woman. Help my unbelief.