Ps 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation—so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?

Fear can envelope us with a darkness that paralyzes and imprisons us within ourselves. Fear of rejection, misunderstanding, sickness or even death can confine and limit our ability to function in life.

David knew fear. He also knew ways to face his fears but it takes courage. To increase courage remind yourself who God is and reaffirm your trust in him. Then pray and tell God what you need. As you pray God’s light becomes even brighter to reveal answers and truth. Finally, be patient. No one likes this part. Waiting on God is difficult but so rewarding. Not only do we draw closer to him and gain confidence and trust in his abilities but we also feel a peace only he can give. Through this peace comes knowledge of his power and grace in our lives. Facing fears with God, who is our light and salvation, is the only way to assure victory over our fears.

When my niece told me that she sometimes gets scared at night because she wakes up and sees shadows in the darkness I realized she needed to learn how to overcome fear. . I explained all she needs to do is say “Jesus” over and over and the shadows will go away. She questioned how that was possible. I explained that Jesus is the light that breaks through the darkness. I also explained that God, who concurred fear in old times, will help her too. Next time we spoke she was so excited. She repeated the name of Jesus and all the shadows disappeared.

Jena Kleinpeter‘s Word of the Day is a work in progress. She hopes to publish a 365 day devotional on the book of Psalms. Visit https://jenakleinpeter.com/ for more devotions in Psalms.