Month: March 2020

The Lord is My Shepherd…

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“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me” (Psalm 23:4).

Who doesn’t love the 23rd Psalm? We all love the idyllic scene of the good shepherd tending, loving, protecting his sheep.

But that’s not why I love this psalm. The verse that comforts me the most from this Psalm is the fourth verse. I find this comforting is because of how real this verse is. This is the world I live in, not the idyllic world.

Look where the psalmist is physically, emotionally, spiritually located – the darkest valley, the valleys of the shadows of death. God never promised that we would not see dark valleys or find ourselves in the shadows of death. What God does promise is that EVEN THERE, GOD IS THERE! There is never a there, where God is not there! 

That is my comfort and strength. I don’t live in an idyllic world. I live in a world where havoc sometimes seems to reign. And I stand firm, because God there. 

Do Not Be Anxious About Anything – Seriously? Seriously

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Philippians 4:6 – Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer an supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God.
Would Paul have said the same thing had Paul known what our world is like today? If he knew how scary and uncertain our world is today, he surely would not have said such a thing, right?
Think again. Paul wrote these words as he was in house-arrest facing what he knew could turn out for his death.
“Do not be anxious,” can be translated as “Do not worry about anything.”
The reason why we can be at peace at such a time as this, is because nothing – NOT ONE THING – that is happening today is taking God by surprise.
This doesn’t mean you ought not be taking risks and being reckless with your life. You should still be doing your part to stay healthy and keep others healthy. You should practice social distancing, washing your hands, staying home, etc.
What this does mean is that you refuse to see people through the eyes of fear – everyone being a potential Covid-19 carrier, and see people for who they are friends, brothers and sisters, children of God.