January 10
The Lord is My Light and
My Salvation
“The Lord is my light and my salvation—who shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—who shall I be afraid of?”
Psalm 27:1 (NIrV)
Daniel sat in his car in the grocery store parking lot, staring blankly at the rain streaking down his windshield. His chest felt tight, weighed down by worry. A week ago, he’d lost his job at the factory—a place he had worked for over ten years. Bills were piling up, and every day he feared he’d have to tell his wife, Elena, that they might lose the house.
“What am I supposed to do now, God?” he whispered, gripping the steering wheel. He felt small, powerless, and alone.
That evening, Daniel went through the motions of dinner with his family, but his seven-year-old daughter, Mia, noticed something was wrong. “Daddy, you look sad,” she said, sliding her favorite stuffed bear across the table to him. “Here, Mr. Snuggles makes me feel better.”
Her simple kindness broke something inside him, and tears filled his eyes. Later that night, after Mia was tucked in bed, Daniel sat on the porch, staring at the night sky. He prayed hesitantly, unsure if God was listening. “Lord, I don’t know what to do. I’m scared for my family. Please help me.”
The next morning, Elena handed him her Bible, opened to a verse she had highlighted: “The Lord is my light and my salvation—who shall I fear?” She smiled and said, “I know things feel impossible right now, but let’s trust that God will guide us through this.”
Something shifted in Daniel’s heart. For the first time, he let go of some of the fear that had gripped him so tightly.
That afternoon, Daniel received a call from an old coworker. “I heard about the layoff. There’s an opening at my new job, and I thought of you,” the man said.
It wasn’t an immediate fix, but it was a glimmer of hope. Daniel realized that God’s light wasn’t about erasing every challenge but about reminding him he didn’t have to face them alone.
That night, as Mia climbed onto his lap with Mr. Snuggles, Daniel smiled for the first time in days. He whispered to himself, The Lord is my stronghold—I don’t need to be afraid.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, thank You for being our light and salvation.
Like Daniel, we often feel overwhelmed by life’s challenges and uncertainties.
Help us to let go of fear and trust in Your provision.
Thank You for the reminders of Your presence, whether through a loved one’s kindness or an unexpected opportunity.
Strengthen us to rely on You as our stronghold, no matter what we face.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
