“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?” Psalm 27:1(ESV).
Who doesn’t like a good story that ends well? When we read the Word of God, we see that not all stories which begin with joy conclude in joy. Let’s consider King Saul’s journey in 1 Samuel. Saul, who was handsome, humble, and gifted as a leader, was beloved and chosen by God as Israel’s first king. Although he began his reign with promise, pride soon overwhelmed him. This pride made Saul fearful of others, leading him to disobey God and endure relentless torment. As he drifted spiritually, he even referred to Him as “your God” to Samuel, rather than “my God” or “our God”—Saul ultimately lost his focus on God. His reign ended tragically when he ended his own life.
Although Saul’s story is sad, it teaches an important lesson: our lives can change if we don’t keep our focus on our Creator. Recently, after listening to the news, I became sad, fearful, and anxious. The news doesn’t usually bother me, but that night it was overwhelming. I felt a nudge to sit before the Lord quietly. As I closed my eyes, the word “focus” echoed deep within me, a reminder from Holy Spirit to not only focus my eyes on where I was headed, but also to focus my heart on Jesus.
I looked down at my Bible and saw Psalm 27. Reading verse one, I immediately understood. Fear from the news had cast a dark shadow over my heart and mind. I read in my Bible, ‘fear is a dark shadow that envelops us and ultimately imprisons us within ourselves.’ I thought of King Saul, who feared people, was spiritually isolated, and was emotionally tormented over the years. He wasn’t free, imprisoned in himself. Saul lost the light of our LORD, who was leading him toward his successes and the freedom of God’s people. The fear of man outweighed his fear of God, and as his focus on the LORD faded, so did the light in his life.
Reflecting on both Saul’s story and my own experience, it’s clear that staying focused on God’s purpose in our lives is vital. The world is full of distractions that can pull us away from the goal we aim to achieve for His glory. When we let distractions or fears keep us from Him, it can bring emotional and spiritual darkness. Discernment and intentional focus draw us closer to God, rather than farther from him and help us make choices for His glory. By keeping our minds and hearts on God and His Word, we become better equipped to live out His will.
Engaging with other believers of faith is important. Good Christian ties help keep us accountable and provide support when we struggle. Bring moments of anxiety, worry, or fear to God in prayer, and meditate on His Word—He understands these moments. How we respond to fear and anxiety matters.
Another example from the New Testament came to mind: Jesus’ invitation to Peter to walk on water. Peter started well, stepping out of the boat onto the water. But then fear set in, and he lost focus on Jesus. In an instant, the storm became his focus. Yet, in that fearful moment, Peter knew to call on Jesus, who lovingly reached out His hand and saved him (Matthew 14).
Just as Peter’s story gives us an example, we also see the importance of asking forgiveness when we lose focus on God in the story of King David (1 Samuel 11-12). David, known as a man after God’s own heart, lost focus on God and let pride and lust cause him to commit adultery and murder. He elevated himself above God and others. But unlike King Saul, David confessed and repented with a sincere heart. There were still consequences, but God is love; He knows our hearts and is forgiving. Thank You, Lord.
In the fearful moments after watching the news, I was grateful for the Spirit’s nudge to refocus before God, who knew my heart was in turmoil. His Word spoke to my spirit, lifting my darkness. I took a deep breath and read Psalm 27: “Of whom shall I be afraid?” and remembered 1 John 4:4: “He who is in me is greater than he who is in the world.” We may at times lose focus on God; when we do, may we call to Jesus, as Peter did, and confess our weakness, as David did. Focus isn’t just about our eyes; it’s also about keeping our hearts on Christ.
As we sing, ‘Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face; and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace’. Let’s invite our LORD to breathe His peace into us and replace our darkness with His light.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are our light and our salvation, and You are the stronghold of our lives. As this world grows darker and fear tries to overshadow us, I pray we call to you, remembering You are the Light of this world. Help us keep our hearts free of fear as we look to the cross and finish life well. Forgive us when we lose our focus on You. Continue to lead our way, Lord. We love You, Jesus. In Your name we pray…. Amen
