“What is at the core of my faith?” Sandra, a vicar, asked herself. During one “terrible year” she began to understand more clearly. She moved to a demanding new parish, her father died suddenly, she underwent major surgery and then her mother also died unexpectedly. She reflected, “I simply couldn’t go on, retreated and was off work for nearly five months.”
Sandra felt like everything was stripped away—except the familiar verse from Psalm 23, which came to her mind in its formal language: “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death . . . thou art with me” (Psalm 23:4, KJV). From then on, she clung to the words: “You are with me” as a life-rope, holding onto God through all the turbulence and uncertainty.
In the years since, as Sandra has found hope in God and recovered both personally and professionally, she has kept at the heart of her life this simple but profound truth: “God is with you”. In this, she echoes David’s assurance that God would never leave him as he walked “even . . .through the darkest valley” (v. 4) while escaping from his enemies in the wilderness.
We too can find comfort and hope in God’s assurance that He will guide us, refresh our souls and envelop us in His goodness and love all the days of our lives (vv. 3, 6). Truly, God is with us.
By Amy Boucher Pye
REFLECT & PRAY
How do you confirm to yourself that God is with you? When has His presence brought you hope, comfort and peace?
Loving God, You lead me through the deepest of valleys. I need not fear, for I know You are with me.
Before David was king or warrior, he was a poet and shepherd to his father’s sheep (1 Samuel 16:11). In fact, God used David’s shepherding as the training ground to help prepare him for the challenges he’d face. For example, when his flock was attacked by a lion and a bear, he stood strong and defeated them (17:34-37). Those events, David felt, prepared him to face the giant Goliath in battle. The responsibilities of leadership and the care of the flock were also good preparation for caring for God’s flock, the people of Israel (Psalm 78:70-72 ). Like those in Jesus’ parable (Matthew 25:21, 23), David had been faithful in a few things and God made him ruler over many things. Likewise, his poetry helped to shape Israel’s worship as David is credited with at least seventy-three psalms in the book of Psalms.
Bill Crowder
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