Psalm 27 - 2.27.25
Psalm 27:1-3
S - 1The 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?
2 When the wicked advance against me
to devour me,
it is my enemies and my foes
who will stumble and fall.
3 Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then I will be confident.
O - Like many psalms, King David wrote this from a season of trouble. Yet it is a song of confidence and triumph: because David was not in darkness or ultimate peril because the LORD was his light and salvation. (Blue Letter Bible). God offers help for today and hope for the future. Unwavering confidence in God is our antidote for fear and loneliness.
A – Fear is darkness. It envelops us and ultimately imprisons us within ourselves. It can overwhelm us, causing physical and emotional sickness. We all experience fear at one time or another. I believe how do we react in the face of our fears, and how we get through it, says a lot about our walk with Jesus. Are we allowing HIM to be our helpmate, our protector. Do we put our trust in HIM to make it through?
Hebrews 13:6 6 So we say with confidence,
“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?”
Seriously! What can they do? People may not like us, there may be bills we cannot pay, the economy and decisions being made on a global level are indeed troublesome. We may be in a relationship that is volatile and hurts us emotionally and/or physically. We or someone we love may have a sickness we cannot escape. However, if we REALLY believe that God is who He says He is, and that we as Christians have already received our eternal salvation, then WHY do we spend so much time being fearful over temporary circumstances and situations? Especially ones outside our control. Why do we let ourselves go down a rabbit hole of worry and/or depression. People are so lost and hurt, fearful, and full of anxiety. They are angry, sad, lonely, and many are suicidal, or one step away from becoming so. Mental illness statistics have become increasingly alarming.
2024 results of the American Psychiatric Association’s annual mental health poll show that U.S. adults are feeling increasingly anxious. In 2024, 43% of adults say they feel more anxious than they did the previous year, up from 37% in 2023 and 32% in 2022. Adults are particularly anxious about current events (70%) — especially the economy (77%), the 2024 U.S. election (73%), and gun violence (69%). This increase may be due to the unprecedented exposure that we have to everything that happens in the world around us, or to an increased awareness and reporting of anxiety. (psychiatry.org)
In 2025, the United States witnessed a significant rise in suicide rates, reaching levels not seen since 1941 according to the USN. The age-adjusted suicide rate climbed to 14.7 deaths per 100,000 individuals, surpassing the 2022 rate of 14.2. This marks a concerning 30% increase over the past two decades. Notably, the number of suicide deaths in 2024 exceeded 49,300, indicating a persistent upward trend. (nchstats.com)
Those numbers are astounding and should NOT BE! As Christians, we need to always be praying. Praying for ourselves, our friends and family, our community, the leaders, our nation and our youth!
Philippians 4:6-7: "Be anxious [or fearful] for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
As Katie has discussed in our recent Dream Team meetings, Science has been able to prove that there are so many positive, physical changes to our brains as we pray. We can literally rewire the way our brains work by praying regularly and reduce the fear and anxiety within. Attached is a link for anyone who wants to delve further into this. It’s pretty amazing. New research says praying can change your brain, no kidding | Broadview Magazine
P – Lord, I pray that as a church family we would encourage one another to pray! To pray alone, pray corporately, to pray with and for others around us. May we be the light needed in the darkness to defend ourselves and others from the darkness that tries to defeat us with worry and fear. I pray we would turn off the “News” loops and the social media that add to our fear and anxiety and instead, turn to Your Word for comfort and guidance. Help us to point others in the same direction. Help us to pray in a way that changes the trajectory of our suicide, anxiety, and mental illness percentages. May we be like David, filled with that unwavering confidence and assurance that comes from YOU alone!
Amen!
- Crystal Flory
