Verse for the week of February 28th:
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom then shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
(Psalm 27:1)
I think that this verse has a powerful image. Think about it—the Lord is my light. One of the most common things in a child’s room for nighttime is a night light. Most children and even many adults are afraid of the dark. This fear comes primarily from the fear of the unknown. When it is dark, one never knows what is behind the next turn for the darkness hides potential threats.
A night light while not giving off a lot of light, gives off enough light so as to allow us to see what is around us and know if there are dangers or not.
The Psalmist is proclaiming to all that the Lord our God is like light. That God exposes the darkness to dispel threats and dangers. We do not have to fear anything, for God is bigger than all and that God will watch over us, bringing light to all situations and enabling us to sense a salvation to all.
One of my favorite camp songs is My God is so big. The words are ‘My God is so big, so strong and so mighty, there is nothing that my God can not do. The mountains are his, the valleys are his, the stars are his handiwork too. My God is so big.’
In these simple words, we announce our faith in a God who is bigger and stronger than us. We can take refuge in this, for we are not alone, but that God walks with us and is watching over us.
We can take comfort in that this is God’s nature and we do not have to be filled with fear, but that we should simply trust in God and allow His light to enlighten our lives.
One of the prayers in the Lutheran Book of Worship is very meaningful and speaks to this whole concept. The prayer is on pg. 153 in the front part of the LBW and states:
Lord God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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