Now, before you decide that you’ve got better things to do than read another Bible verse breakdown, consider sticking around. It’s not just a verse; it’s a fresh lens for viewing this crazy, often confounding world we live in. I promise, you’ll come out the other side with something heartening, especially in these times when heartening things seem as hard to find as a Democrat at a Republican rally.
Ah, Psalm 27:1. “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?” If ever there was a verse to etch into the walls of your heart, this is it. As a 60-year-old fella who’s seen nearly everything this life has to offer, I can say that it has served as an unshakeable pillar in my journey. Let me tell you a story or two from my life and pass on some wisdom, something more precious than silver or gold, as our Good Book says.
When Darkness Creeps In
Growing up in rural America, you learn a lot of things—how to skin a deer, how to appreciate a summer sunset, and, if you’re blessed, how to trust in the Lord. One summer night, when I was 12, a storm rolled through. No, not an ordinary storm—this one blackened the sky faster than a coffee grounds stain on a white Sunday shirt. The power went out, and the old farmhouse creaked and groaned as the wind battered its walls. I clung to my mother’s side, feeling the raw grip of fear.
She did something simple yet profoundly comforting. She lit a candle and started to sing, “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?” By that flickering flame, the darkness seemed to lose its power. That storm, which had looked like the apocalypse itself, turned into something quite bearable. I learned right then and there that a little faith can turn midnight into morning.
The Battles We Choose
Now, as we age, our fears often become more complex. Fear of job loss, fear of illness, fear of losing loved ones. It goes from being terrified of thunderstorms to the existential terror of facing the void. But friend, remember, the same God who watched over you when you were knee-high to a grasshopper is the same God who watches over you now.
When I was 45, I went through a tough spot—one of those rough patches where you ask yourself if you ever should’ve left the fishing boat to follow the Lord in the first place. I’d lost my job at the factory—24 years there, and gone in an instant. It felt like someone had pulled the rug out from under my feet, and there I was, flat on my back, staring up at the ceiling wondering what on Earth I was supposed to do next.
I spent many a night that winter staring at the ceiling, my thoughts darker than the bleak January sky. And then, one evening, I remembered Psalm 27:1. I lit a candle, just like my mother had years ago, and whispered those sacred words. An amazing thing happened. The fear didn’t vanish, but it got smaller. I realized that my God was a lighthouse in the middle of my storm, and He wasn’t about to let me drift into the rocks.
Finding the Light
As Christians, our faith doesn’t promise a fear-free life—far from it. But it does promise that we don’t face our fears alone. Remember how David, the author of this Psalm, was no stranger to terror. He battled lions, faced down giants, ran for his life from a paranoid king, and even wrestled with his own sins and weaknesses. Yet, even as he wandered in the caves hiding from Saul, he could confidently say, “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?”
And isn’t that the crux of it? It’s not that we have no fear, but rather that we’ve got Someone far greater by our side. Our fears, real and daunting as they may be, shrink in comparison to the Almighty Creator, the one who spoke the stars into existence and knows the number of hairs on your head. Next time you find yourself fretting about the state of the country or worrying about your grandkids growing up in such a tumultuous world, remember: “The Lord is my light and my salvation.” With Him, we’ve got nothing to fear.
A Prayer for the Path
I want to end with a prayer, good folks. Bow your heads and let’s speak to our Heavenly Father.
Dear Lord, we come before You with grateful hearts, acknowledging You as our light and our salvation. In moments when the darkness of fear threatens to overpower us, remind us of Your ever-present light. Help us to find comfort in Your promise, walking each day with the assurance that You are with us. Thank You, Lord, for the strength You provide and the hope You instill in our hearts. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Feel that warmth in your soul? That’s the power of God’s love working through you. So, the next time fear looms on the horizon of your life, remember Psalm 27:1. Let God’s light pierce through your darkness, guiding you safely through the storm.
