08/27/2026
My Favorite Psalm:
Psalm 27
by Brother Matt Henson
Several years ago, our friend and former church member, Rhonda called me. Her and her family moved to Georgia about the time my family had made the obedient step into full-time mission and evangelism. Rhonda’s husband, Rob, was being placed on hospice. He was dying from cancer at the age of 47 years old. I traveled to Georgia soon after her call to spend time with Rob and his family. There were so many holy moments that day as family and friends visited, we talked about Jesus, and we watched football together.
There was a point in our day when I had to say goodbye and head back home. I knew it was likely this would be my last time seeing Rob on this side of heaven. He shared his confidence in salvation and his knowledge of Christ’s love for him. Just as when Rob and I spent time in recommitment prayer many years prior, we once again affirmed our shared faith and confidence in salvation and resurrection.
About one week later, Rhonda called to tell me Rob had passed from this life into the arms of Jesus. As we prayed together and talked together, she told me a story that touched my heart and made Psalm 27 one of my favorite Psalms.
As Rob was declining and moving toward the end of his life, he asked Rhonda, “Is this the end? Am I dying?” Rhonda responded, “Rob, it seems like you are at the end.” Rob said, “What do I do now?” Rhonda responded, “I don’t know, but Pastor Matt always told us when there are questions, we can find God’s answer in here [holding up the Bible I had gifted to Rob].”
As Rhonda told me about the experience, she shared how the Holy Spirit led her to the Psalms. She started reading at Psalm 1 and continued. As she moved from Psalm to Psalm, it seemed the answer they were seeking was not coming forth. As she approached Psalm 23, she was certain this great Psalm would provide the comfort and the answer. Yet, even Psalm 23 was not speaking to their hearts and Rob’s question, “What do I do now?”
As she started to read Psalm 27, her heart began to find peace. She read, “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” (verse 1). She continued, “One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek his temple” (verse 4). Then she came to the final two verses, “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord” (Verses 13-14).
Rhonda closed the Bible and said, “Rob, I think we have our answer. We need to wait for the Lord.” She shared how the peace of God filled the room, as she and Rob waited for the Lord in the confidence that he would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
My eyes filled with tears as Rhonda shared this holy moment with me. During this new season in Rob’s life, his confidence in the Lord was that he would be entering the land of the living. He was simply waiting in peace on this new season.
Psalm 27 has become a favorite Psalm in my life because I pray each follower of Jesus would have this confidence when they come to the time of life on this earth coming to an end. In Romans 8:16-17, Paul speaks of this confidence when he writes, “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”
In Christ we have a confidence of God’s presence with us in life and in death. The promises of God are true that the Lord is our light, our salvation, and our light. We have nothing to fear because the Lord is with us. We can confidently wait on the Lord in our struggles and suffering because we know the Lord is faithful.
Do you have the confidence that you will enter the land of the living when your eyes on this earth close in death? If not, I would love to talk with you more ([email protected] or 618-830-6670).
Prayer: Lord, death is not easy to comprehend or to walk through. Yet, we know you are with us and we can have the confidence that we will enter the land of the living. If we do not have that confidence, show us where fear and uncertainty inhabit our lives and help us confess sin and fear to you. Please give us confidence. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
