In the last several years, the world has become a darker and much scarier place to live. Wars, diseases, street violence in most major cities, desperate financial hardship for many as prices of necessities skyrocket. When we were little, we might not have thought that grown-ups could be afraid, but now we know how false that thinking is. Our psalm for this week, Psalm 27, is one of my favorite psalms. The author, David, was someone who had good reason to be afraid, as he spent several years as a young adult running for his life while King Saul unjustly tried to kill him. He also fought in the military, both as soldier, and later as king, against the enemies of the Israelites. Later David’s own son, Absalom, raised an army against him, and tried to depose him as king. David had good reason to be afraid, but he also knew where to turn when afraid, which is what this psalm is all about. Let’s learn David’s secret for when fear strikes us, as it likely will at some point in our life.
As our psalm opens up, David reveals where he turns to in those dark days. It may be figuratively dark right now with so many fearsome things happening in the world and in our own personal lives. We are afraid. However David, who knew many dark days, said that he had light and nothing to be afraid of. The Lord God was his light and his strength, and with Him he had no need for fear (vs. 1).
When enemies, whether literal or figurative ones, come surrounding us, just as if they would eat us up, God can handle them. With Him as our protector, they will stumble and fall (vs. 2). We can be confident and fearless, even though an army, again literal or figurative, comes against us (vs. 3). In times of darkness Jesus will be our light, and illuminate the way (John 8:12; 12:46). He has promised that He will never leave or forsake those who have called upon Him as Savior. In the midst of darkness and despair, we can know that God is our light. Knowing that He is the stronghold of our life can make us feel protected, embraced, and loved.
We can conquer fear by using the light of the Lord, who brings salvation. There is no darkness at all in God (I John 1:5). His light will dispel the darkness of fear. When we’re walking in the power of God’s Spirit we don’t need to fear anything. Those who desire to live in God’s presence each day will be able to enjoy that relationship forever (vs. 4). God’s perfect love casts out fear (I John 4:18). We are secure because God’s perfect love protects us, no matter what our circumstances may be.
However, some may wonder why their circumstances have not changed, even though they have turned to the Lord and brought their urgent needs and fears to the Lord in prayer. What is wrong? Doesn’t God care about me? At the end of our psalm David instructs us that we need to wait on the Lord (vs. 14). Sometimes we feel that God has let us down because He doesn’t provide an immediate answer to our prayers. Waiting on God requires faith in Him. Walking by faith means trusting in God, even without knowing when or how He will resolve the situation. We must submit to the Lord, knowing there is nothing we can do except rest in Him.
Waiting for the Lord requires patience, and takes courage. Waiting can transform us into a people of growing faith. When we become frustrated with God’s apparent delay in answering our prayer, it is good to remember that He is interested in developing faith and perseverance in our character. Waiting for God is not easy, but He is worth waiting for. God calls us to hope in and wait for Him because He will use the waiting to refresh, renew, and teach us.
God always comes through for those who wait on Him. If we hold fast to His hand, knowing that He loves us, we have no reason to fear. Although circumstances change, God’s promises do not. Stand on the rock of His promises, and take shelter under His wings until the storm passes. Our God is the biggest, strongest, and most loving Father in the universe! We can rest on His round the clock care of every area of our life. We don’t need to fear any circumstance. Instead of saying, “God, I have a big problem!” we can say, “Problem, I have a big God!” Because God is near, I need not fear!
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