“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and the staff, they comfort me.” -Psalm 23:4
According to my grandson Mason, this part of Psalm 23 “sounds cool.” Mason is eight years old!
As he grows up he will really understand how these words will affect his life and the way he thinks. These are definitely words to live by.
Our lives take so many turns, and we are pulled in many different directions every day. Our work schedules, our parents, children and grandchildren, and people that come in and out of our lives, make daily challenges hard to manage.
This passage tells us that God is always with us, even when we encounter things that are not what we expected, and when we are trying to complete a task, and it does not turn out exactly how we wanted in many situations.
When I was first divorced, I suddenly found myself unsure of which way to turn. I had three children, and although the two oldest did not live with me, I had to learn to be both Mother and Father to my youngest daughter. I made lots of mistakes, and have been apologizing for many years. She has long since forgiven me, but I know that if God had not been with me, and had not impressed upon my heart a new direction for my life, things could not have turned out this well for either one of us. –
Mason is right! God being with us is, “cool.” He listens to our prayers, and comforts us when we do not know which direction to turn, especially at the low points in our lives.
Gabrielle Moon, Executive Director, St. Luke’s Children’s Centers
