Detail from a stained glass window featuring Howard Thurman at Howard University’s Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” Psalm 27:1

Yesterday, we launched into our new worship series, contemplating how God has created us and instilled in us the capacity to take on the challenges of the world. One of those capacities is to call upon the bravery necessitated by a world that so often conspires to keep us afraid.

Psalm 27 remind us that our bravery is rooted not in our strength, but in God’s unwavering presence and protection. It’s God’s light that dispels our fears and God’s mercy that secures our hope.

Theologian and civil rights leader Howard Thurman, one of MLK’s mentors, offered a profound reflection on this divine courage. He wrote, “Do not be silent; there is no limit to the power that may be released through you.” Thurman’s words urge us to recognize the boundless potential God has placed within us when we step forward in faith, even when fear tries to paralyze us.

Being created to be brave means embracing the challenges before us with a steadfast heart, knowing that God is our stronghold. It means speaking out against injustice, standing up for what is right, and trusting that God is with us every step of the way. Our bravery is not the absence of fear, but the decision to act in spite of it, empowered by the assurance that God is our light and salvation.

May God’s peace find you today. -Pastor Peter

Let us pray… Creator God, we ask for the courage to live bravely, to face our fears with the confidence that comes from knowing we are never alone, for you are our ever-present help and strength. Amen.