I will fear no evil

Hey 👋🏿,

Psalms 23:4 NIV‬

[4] Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Reading this verse reminds me of younger me who was so scared of the dark.. (Older me still needs light anyway 🫣).. she'd burrow under the blanket to sleep despite repeated warnings to not cover her head with the blanket from her father.

A lot of evil happens in the dark but unfortunately it's now happening in broad daylight. But an interesting fact is that this verse isn't controlled by our calendar or time. Our darkest nights could be at anytime and this verse makes us understand why we don't need to be afraid, it points out our blanket of security which is the fact that Jesus is with us.

In church service today, the minister walked us through the significance of the name Immanuel which means God with us.

This Psalmist who had fought a lot of wars, dealt with biological children trying to take his life, had a family set against itself sat down took a breath picked his pen up and informed us that he's not afraid of anything because God is with him.

As Christians we're often reminded that God is within us, around us, watching over us and is also under us. He's everywhere.

The Psalmist asked that where could he go that God wasn't there, it seems even making his bed in the deep couldn't stop our loving Father from giving His convicting advices ( I'm grateful our physical parents do not have this kind of reach 😌).

So if you have an almighty, all encompassing Father, why are you afraid?

Death is a terrifying thought to a lot of people, it's easy to say God forbid and try to banish that thought but I want you to understand like today's minister made me understand that you don't have to live in fear of death or whatever you're afraid of.

‭1 Corinthians 15:54-57 NIV‬

[54] When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” [55] “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” [56] The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. [57] But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Bible instructs us to not wallow in anxiety but with prayer and Thanksgiving surrender all your problems to God (paraphrased).

Job losses, death of loved ones, poverty, fear of failure, you name it...they don't have authority over you, you're free because Christ has carried all of it, borne all your pain and offers you peace.

His rod and staff comforting you? (Wish this was a vn) Rod is a stick, staff is a stick, why is there an and? 

I believe because there are two sticks. The rod is a symbol of discipline while the staff is a symbol of leadership and authority. It shows ownership (as in the case of Judah who gave his staff as a pledge to his daughter in law, he couldn't dispute the pregnancy because he recognised his staff). It makes us understand that under the guidance and correction of the Shepherd the sheep felt safe knowing he wasn't going astray and as long as he was under the shepherd's guidance, nothing, absolutely nothing, not even the darkest valley would cause him to be afraid.

Have a blessed week 🤍

Your accountability partner in Christ, Gloria 🎀.

Shalom 🤍