David composed Psalm 57 while fleeing from King Saul, expressing his anxiety and fear in the mountains and caves of Israel. The psalm ends with triumph and praise for God. Author Philip Yancey suggests David wrote the psalms as therapy to help him rise above his fear and see God's control. Telling oneself the truth, as David did, can heal and comfort us during times of fear and nerves failing, and help gain perspective amid volatile emotions, as it did for David.

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5Tgives usa beautiful picture of a leader
F in touch with his humanity, David composed it
] as he fled from Saul in the mountains and caves
of lsrael. The psalm expresses anxiety and fear;
yet h ends with triumph: "Be exalted, 0 God,
] above the heavens; let Your glory be above all the
i earth" (Ps.57:11).
Author Philip Yancey suggests that David wrote
and sang the psalms as therapy for himself.
Somehow telling himself the truth enabled him
to tise above his fear and see a transcendent God
who remained in control.
Fonunately, few of us live with such danger. Like
0avid, however, we all have timei when nerves
fail and fear creeps in. We feel surrounded by
adversaries, Telling ourselves the ruth, as David
did, will heal and comfort us, as it did him. The
truth of Psalm 57 can serve as our counselor. Suc-
cessful leaders tell themselves the truth and gain
perspective in the midsi of volatile emotions.