Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

Some Bible passages are difficult to communicate cross-culturally, but the 23rd Psalm is not one of them! Various elements in it do bear some exposition, particularly for modern urbanites, but the word picture here, of “the valley of the shadow of death,” seems to be crystal clear for everyone. We are all faced with our own mortality, but it is not so much death itself that is the problem, but fear of death that paralyzes. That’s why it is so important that Jesus didn’t just die to take the penalty for our sins, as essential as that is, but that He also rose from the dead, proving that physical death is not final. Only those who have that assurance by faith are really liberated from the fear of death. Some try to overcome that fear by imagining death as a blissful sleep, but that only goes so far. It is only when our faith is anchored in the risen Christ that we can “fear no evil” when faced with the possibility, the certainty, of death. It is to that end that the Lord’s discipline, His rod and His staff, are a comfort, because they are proof that we belong to Him, as Hebrews 12:4-13 expresses so clearly.

A church member just faced “the valley of the shadow of death” when she was flagged by one test to have more extensive testing for the possibility of cancer. As it turned out, the further testing gave her a clean bill of health, but her initial response was as severe as if she had already gotten a Stage 4 diagnosis. She is young in faith, and she had a rough time of it! I tried not to put her down for her response, but rather help her see that God is still God and to be trusted, whatever our immediate circumstances. That’s a lesson she has needed in other areas as well, and I feel this was an example of God’s “rod” to teach her to let go and trust Him. That’s an area where I need more growth myself, as I demonstrated just recently by my response to the possibility of losing access to the land next door to the church. That’s still a very real possibility, but God is still to be trusted, whatever happens.

Father, we are so slow to grow in faith. Thank You for loving such weak, foolish ones as we are, guiding and correcting, bringing us home to be with You. May I be an example and an encouragement to all who know me, drawing them with me into right relationship with You, so that together we may be all that You desire, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!