Beyond Fear

“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”         —Psalm 27:1

It seems as if the earth has turned sideways and shuffled our known world into a confusing mess. Odd, extreme weather has become expected. New viruses are popping up almost daily. World leaders are engaging in power grabs as they attempt to bully other nations into compliance causing economic chaos. We struggle to keep our fear of an unknown future in check. But we are not alone. The Lord is with us just as He has been with past believers, holding us, guiding us.

The book of Psalms is a source of comfort when fear threatens to overwhelm us. Psalm 27 begins by showing David’s confidence in the Lord. He lists three reasons to trust the Lord:
(1) The Lord is David’s light.  This is a common metaphor in the Bible for knowledge, truth, and goodness. As David’s light, the Lord was the source of joy, understanding, and life.
(2) The Lord is David’s salvation. The deliverer from his enemies. David never forgot that even his successes were victories that were ultimately given by God.
(3) The Lord was David’s strength. This implies security and safety. The Lord was a stronghold, a fortress that kept David safe.

David recognized that, with the Lord, he had no reason to fear anyone. Neither do we. No matter what troubles we encounter or unforeseen situations loom on the horizon, we have no reason to fear. The Lord keeps us safe.

Sometimes, however, knowing that we should not fear doesn’t keep us from experiencing it. At times, we all find ourselves overwhelmed with the strain of natural human anxiety. Knowing not to be afraid doesn’t make a person immune to that emotion. What then?

Put the Lord Jesus in proper perspective. See Him for who He truly is. He is not only our light and life; He is also our strength and peace. Rejoice in the God of our salvation and trust in His love and care.

Dear Lord,
Thank You for being my sufficiency and strength. You are my light. When fear overtakes my mind, help me remember the wonderful truth of who You really are.