Mark Sorensen Let’s continue in the walk with the Good Shepherd. Today, I am looking at verse 4 of the 23rd Psalm.
Even in the unending shadows of death’s darkness,
I am not overcome by fear.
Because You are with me in those dark moments,
near with Your protection and guidance,
I am comforted. -Psalm 23:4 (the VOICE)
If you have read any of the previous blog posts, you should have certainly learned by now that sheep can get into trouble. This is why sheep need a shepherd. And, this is exactly what Jesus was saying in John 10:14 when He looked at His disciples and said, “I am the Good Shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me”. Praise God that, even when we make a mess of our lives, we are never alone, the Good Shepherd is always there to guide. But, let me ask. Have you ever needed that reminder? Has life ever gotten so complicated, scary and messy that you actually forget that you have a Good Shepherd to guide you? If we were sitting together right now I am guessing your answer would match mine: “Yes”. Honestly, I feel like a bit of a hypocrite even typing this out confessing that I forget that I am guided by the Good Shepherd. But a certain monster tends to put a wedge in my relationship and, all too often, throws me into a downward spiral. Maybe you are familiar with this monster? Four letters… F-E-A-R.
If I can go on the record officially here? I believe that one of the biggest vices the enemy uses to cause division between the lives Christ has called us to live and us actually living fully into that life? It’s fear. Let me throw a number out at you. Ready? 365. That number equals the number of times the scriptures address the idea of “fear” and “not being afraid” are found. Crazy, right? It’s almost as if God knew that we would need a DAILY reminder of the importance of not living a life in fear.
I love that Psalm 23:4 faces this reality head on. David, the shepherd, reminds us that, “even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil“. Why? Because, “You are with me in those dark moments, near with Your protection and guidance”.
Maybe you are living a fear-less life today. If so, then I rejoice with you and say, “praise God”! But, maybe you have allowed fear to become larger than who God is in your life. Can I say it? It’s time to get rid of that monster. You were not created to live in fear. In fact, even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death we FEAR NO EVIL. Do you even realize that death does not stop those whom God loves? The verse does not read, “even though we STOP in the valley of the shadow of death…” it reads that we, “walk through…” the valley of the shadow of death. Praise God for this truth of His guidance and protection!
I keep a quote book that I write in and refer back to often. One of my favorites reads, “Don’t tell God how big your problems are. Tell your problems how big your God actually is.” This is the God we worship. This is the God who is absolutely crazy about His children. And you should know… this is the same God who is watching over you, right now. No matter what you face, hear this truth: you are not alone. Let the words of Isaiah 43 fall over you right now:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
So, hear the good news. Do not fear. Do not be afraid. You are not alone in this. The Lord is near. Have that much needed conversation with the fear monster and tell it exactly how big your God is. Then, let God move from there.
Time to put the fear monster down, people. Happy hunting!
