Many claim this Psalm as a favorite in their lives as we read it often in times of distress. "The Lord is thy light...be of good courage!" The Psalmist speaks of his foes who are slanderous and the fear and resolution that he comes to. Fear is pain, apprehension, and it fills our hearts with anxiety...BUT the Lord is my strength and whom shall I fear?! We live in the land of the living...our earthly sojourn and there IS strong faith for the child of God! We take courage in this very fact! I do see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!

Meaning: He speaks of the fearlessness of FAITH which is unshakable confidence. "Unless I had not seen I would faint." He finds himself in dire circumstances in life and comes to the conclusion that he does not have to worry or fear. It is the truth of the Gospel of His grace! The realization of God's goodness in the face of our Lord Jesus Christ! We have circumstances in our life also where we say to ourselves often "where is God's goodness?" Unless we have not our FAITH and see ONLY what the carnal eye sees here below. When we look with the eye of FAITH however, then we see that the Lord is good and we see His goodness upon His people ALWAYS! The Goodness of the Lord is FAITH! To see and to believe it!

Exercise: It is that faith that is a KNOWLEDGE and a CONFIDENCE. A knowledge that the Word of God which is the good news of the Gospel which is the very foundation of our confidence. Not mere feelings or emotions but an OBJECTIVE TRUTH! These bedrock truths become the very basis of our faith and our confidence! Unless we see those things we can't put our confidence in them as the Psalmist did here. Abraham had to pick up his tent stakes and stand CONFIDENT in the Lord's blessing even though he sojourned...not an easy thing to do sometimes. Daniel in the lion's den who had the courage to stand with those who were with the Lord. And only when we stand with the eye of faith will we see past the trials and tribulations of life and can say also that we saw the Lord's blessings upon us. They are for the us and for our children!

Result: "Wait on the Lord and be of good courage and He will strengthen thy heart." One waits hopefully KNOWING that all things are for our good. Read Romans 8! We want to see immediate results sometimes and if you are like me ALL THE TIME. Courage is to stand convicted of the Lord's goodness amidst the things around us. We too would faint if we did not see the Lord's goodness amidst the things around us. We too would faint if we did not see the Lord's goodness and we, in faith, wait patiently for His will in our lives and He gives us courage that ALL things will turn out for our good.