Be Strong and Take Courage

Note from today’s Bible reading: Psalm 7; 27; 31; 34; 52

David faced many adversaries, from the enemies of the nations around him to the king of Israel, Saul, who hunted him down and tried to kill him. Despite all of this, he was firm in his trust in the Lord.

In one of his psalms, David asked, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; whom shall I dread?” (Psalm 27:1). He said, “Though war arise against me, in spite of this I shall be confident” (Psalm 27:3).

At the end of the psalm, he explained that without this trust in God, he would have no reason to have confidence in the face of his opposition. “I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living” (Psalm 27:13).

He then encouraged all of us, “Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord” (Psalm 27:14). The example of David shows us that no matter what trials we face in this life, we can have confidence because God is our “light,” our “salvation,” and our “defense” (Psalm 27:1).

So be strong and take courage. Remember that the Lord will take care of His people. Even in situations that seem hopeless and we are tempted to despair, let us keep in mind the goodness that God has promised and hold onto our faith.