Thursday, April 16, 2025

         David is thought to be the author of Psalm 27. Some suggest that he might have written this Psalm when he was on the run from Saul and trying to escape Saul’s threats and violent anger. He began Psalm 27 with a declaration of fearlessness. He wrote, “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?” David was not fearless because of his power or cleverness. He was fearless because of the Lord and his solemn trust in the Lord. In a word, David knew the Lord. Often in the Psalms, David wrote of God being his refuge and strength (see Psalm 7:1 and 7:10). Turning to the Lord is the right choice when we find ourselves in a struggle or facing a situation that could easily overwhelm us.
          In many situations in life, we can live in fear or confidence. We can fear others. We can fear what we cannot control. We can fear situations. We can fear the unknown. But in all four of these examples, the Lord is still greater than any of them. The Lord is without equal or counterpart. We would do well to remember that the Lord is the LORD in anything we might face or encounter. David had this confidence when he wrote, “Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me” (Psalm 27:10). Imagine that confidence—though even my own flesh and blood turn from me, the LORD will still receive me and keep watch over me.
         Our highest confidence is never in ourselves, others or situations. Any one of these can fail or change rapidly. Our confidence is always in the Lord. He does not change. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). This high degree of confidence allows us to do what David wrote at the end of Psalm 27. “Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD” (Psalm 27:14). Our waiting on the Lord is not in vain or a waste of time. God will provide and grant answers in His perfect timing and ways.
         How do we build confidence in the Lord? First, we trust Him with our lives. We trust Him as our Savior and Lord—the One who has done everything necessary for us to be forgiven and made right in our relationship with Him. Coming to know the Lord personally is a crucial first step. Second, we read His Word. We make Bible reading a daily part of our lives. We discover promises we can commit to memory. We see ways that God has performed in the past. We find His ways and answers to a host of situations we may well face in life. Third, we remember where God has worked in the past. We remember His blessings. We remember what He has done for us. The Lord’s faithfulness in the past is a wonderful prologue to His faithfulness in the present and the future.
         Fourth, we cast our cares upon the Lord. We routinely cast on Him, as we are invited to do, the cares that weigh us down and burden us. We hand these things to Him to manage and direct. God invites us to come boldly before His throne because our access to Him has been won and secured for us through His Son Jesus. Listen to the stories of Christians whom you admire and trust—stories of how and when they have cast their cares and burdens on the Lord.
          In life, we really have three strategies we can employ. The first strategy is we can live a pessimistic and defeated life where we live indifferently and apathetically about most things. We can resign ourselves to just floating along with whatever comes our way. The second strategy is that we can live with self-confidence. We can pride ourselves on being self-made and self-sufficient. We can convince ourselves that we can handle anything that happens. That works until it doesn’t. Inevitably, we learn just how limited we are and that the lies we have told ourselves do not work. Life can be a cruel teacher. The third strategy, and the best strategy, is to be confident in Christ. He is our victor and Savior. Confidence in Christ is never misplaced. We remain convinced that He is able and that He will get us to where He wants us to be. We learn to be confident in Christ when we can say that this is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it! Have a great Thursday!