I Am Not Afraid

In a world that is held
in such deep darkness
where the light of truth
often seems more of a flicker
than a flame—
in a world where
deceit,
dishonesty,
falsehood,
and foolishness
divert and distort
the lives of so many—
in times when a myriad of
voices
say so
much
about so many things,
where confusion seems
readily available
and clarity seems
hard to find—
in a world where opinions
rise to a place
where only truth should be,
and every voice
seems to get an equal hearing
in the constant cacophony
of ten thousand
contradictory voices—
it is a wonderful
and amazing thing
to be able to say
with rest and confidence,
“The Lord is my light!
My heart has been lit
by the illuminating
and protective glory
of his
powerful and transforming grace,
my mind has been renewed
by the luminescent presence
of his truth-guiding
Holy Spirit,
and my life has been guided
down straight paths
by the ever-shining lamp
of his word.
I am not afraid,
but it is not because
I am strong
or wise.
I am not afraid,
but it is not because
I have power
or position.
I am not afraid,
but it is not because
I have health
or wealth.
I am not afraid,
but it is not because
my circumstances
or relationships
are easy.
I am not afraid
for one glorious reason:
I have been lit by the
Lord of light.
In the darkness
of this fallen world,
I no longer walk
in the night,
but I have been given
the light of life.
I am not afraid
because light lives in me.
This one amazing reality
gives me rest;
I have been rescued from
darkness
and transported into the
light,
and I am not afraid.”

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Psalm 119:105)

God bless,

Paul Tripp

Reflection Questions

Spend some time thinking about the similarities between light and darkness compared to Christ and our world. It’s an illustration we sometimes hear so often that we forget to consider it fully. Let your thinking on these things draw you into prayer.

Is anything making you afraid today or this week? How should you view fear based on this poem?

For further study and encouragement, read Philippians 2:12–18.