Facing Our Fears

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

Let there be light. These are the first words spoken by God in the Bible. “In the beginning,” Scripture tells us, “the earth was formless and empty; darkness was over the surface of the deep.” In a succinct proclamation, we see God’s desire for light amidst the chaos, emptiness, and darkness of the earth. Immediately, light appears.

Biblical scholars believe that Psalm 27, highlighted in our readings this week, is a testament to its writer’s experience of a dark time. Facing political division, adversity, and possible death at the hand of King Saul, David demonstrates his unwavering trust in the goodness of God. He faces the turbulent times head-on by remembering God’s faithfulness to him and by clinging to his faith in God. His response calls to mind the words of writer and civil rights activist James Baldwin: “Not everything we face can be changed, but nothing can be changed unless we face it.” David faces the darkness, desperation, and damnation around him and professes, despite all of it, that God is his light and his salvation.

All spiritually faithful people must face the forces of darkness; it comes with the territory. Confronting the evils of  racism in our country, Martin Luther King Jr. could no doubt relate to the challenges David faced. Dr. King held tightly to his faith in the most trying times. His version of Psalm 27:1 sounded like this: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

All throughout the Bible, we are reminded: Do not be afraid.”

Like Dr. King and the soon-to-be King David, we live in dark and challenging times. Daily life is rife with fear. This is why Psalm 27 is such a gift to us. As we hear it and pray it, we remember that God is continually calling us to light and salvation in Jesus. In a world of assaults on human rights and liberties, in a world that serves up threat after threat to our very lives, we are called to remember and proclaim boldly: God is my light and my salvation; whom then shall I fear? All throughout the Bible, we are reminded: Do not be afraid.

Psalm 27 ends with an affirmation of God’s saving grace. “I remain confident of this,” writes David, “I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.” As we walk in God’s light, may we grow in courage — and may we fear nothing.

Here are some questions to ponder to help you face the darkness in your life: What does it mean for God to be light? What does it mean for God to be salvation? Where do I need light today? Where do we need salvation?

Kathy Bozzuti-Jones

Kathy Bozzuti-Jones, PhD, is associate director, Faith Formation and Education, Spiritual Practices, Retreats, and Pilgrimage.

Read all of Sunday’s Scriptures

Step Into the Story

Here are some ways to think about God as our light.

Music

Grammy Award–winning Gospel artist CeCe Winans sings of God’s faithful presence throughout her life: “Your goodness is running after me.”

Contemplative Practice

This guided meditation on Psalm 27 draws on a contemporary translation by writer Nan Merrill and invites the listener to focus on words or phrases that speak to their heart.

Scripture Commentary

Benjamin Sommer, professor of Bible at the Jewish Theological Seminary, considers Psalm 27 and its writer’s movement from confidence to distress and, ultimately, to hope.

Poetry

Irish poet David Whyte offers a small step on the road to tending a nascent faith.

Prayer

Jesuit theologian Pierre Teilhard de Chardin prays for the patience to trust in the slow work of our faithful God.