Day 6 – Fear Not
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Ps 23:4
We’ve all had times in our lives when things seemed to be crashing down; you lose your job, a death of a close family member or friend, a relationship disintegrating – any number of events like these can bring fear with them.
David gives us his take on situations like these. Although we don’t know for sure when this psalm was written, it was evidently either during or after some great upheaval or upheavals in his life. It could have referred to the years he spent on the run from King Saul who was trying to kill him. Or the time his own son, Absalom, led a rebellion, trying to depose him from the throne. Or the time he lost a new-born son that he had conceived through an adulterous relationship. Whether he was referring to a specific event or being more general, he was well acquainted with walking “through the valley of the shadow of death.”
And he gives us two keys to deal with times like these. The first is the word shadow. To get the fuller meaning of this, we need to take a look at the last verse – “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” This shows the eternal nature of God and our relationship with Him. We are on this earth for a short time, but will spend eternity with Him, free from evil and pain. The Bible is clear on the fact that this life is a vapour or a shadow when compared to eternal life (Ps 144:4, Job 8:9, James 4:14). So whatever evil we are facing, it is temporary, even if it seems never-ending and overwhelming. There will come a time when all will be made right.
Also, there are times when things look really bad, but it is only a shadow – it’s not as bad as it seems, and things turn around.
The second key in the phrase, “For You are with me.” God is all-powerful, all-knowing and eternal. He assures us that we are carved in the palm of His hand (Isaiah 49:16). In other words, we are always in His thoughts, and He is always aware of our circumstances. Even when things look like they’re getting worse, trust in the One who will care for you like the perfect Father He is. Ps 27:1 - The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
The bottom line? Fear not!
Consider:
What bad circumstances have you been through where you have seen God turn things around?
What are you facing now that you need to curb my fear and trust in Him?