Daily Thought for Saturday 15th March 2025
“The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?”
Psalm 27:1 (NRSV)
Facing fear
Fran Selkirk
This Psalm is acknowledged to have been written by David when he was exiled and being hunted by King Saul. It was a time when he and his followers were in great danger and fearfulness.
The short psalm has much to say in not many words. We find David knowing he had to stay close to God to survive. He prayed and he waited for God to guide him.
Verses 7-10 tell of David’s fear, but again he trusts in God, not making rash plans, but awaiting God’s prompting.
Verses 11-14 have him looking to the future. David has won a battle, but knows that more turmoil will come. He turns again to God for guidance, praying, confessing his failings and concerns, putting his trust in God.
Verse 14 stands out for me:
“Wait and hope for and expect the Lord. Be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring.” (Amplified Bible)
In humans, fear can help us consider our actions, but it can also inhibit, even freeze us. Only through taking everything to God, can we move forward, despite our fears. Romans 8:31 reminds us, “If God be for us, who can be against us?”
In this light, we as Christians are called to be brave, courageous, stout of heart and spirit, sharing the Gospel of Christ. We are to Face our fears and, with God’s help, overcome fear itself.
Warren W. Wiersbe, in his book, Be Worshipful, says: “I know not what the future holds, but I know who holds the future. If Jesus is your Saviour and Lord, then the future is your friend, and you have nothing to fear.”
Shall we pray?:
Lord, we ask you to take our fear and give us faith. Amen.