No Fear

Calls at 5 a.m. are never good. Mom K had fallen again, banged her head, hurt her back, and my tired hubby needed to take her to the ER. She was fortunate this time. No more breaks or stitches. Something needs to change. She can't keep falling, and ending up in the ER. And this is my third night of 5 hours or less sleep. I don't look so hot well-rested, so you can imagine what these consecutive sleepless evenings are doing to the raccoon circles around my eyes.

I have several book projects going on at once. One of them was near completion yesterday. It was very appropriate to life's circumstances. It is a little illustrated book of the 23rd Psalm. I am glad I was dwelling on that yesterday. It helps to keep me from overdosing on the Fine Chocolates my Dad bought for me to bring home to Arvo when we returned from NY.

"Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me."

This is the crux of the matter. No matter what darkness surrounds us, God is there. He is with me. He is with you. I would honestly prefer that He dispel the darkness, but for whatever reason, He instead tells us to trust Him, to know in our souls that He is greater than the darkness.

I was thinking about that while on a walk yesterday. I was thinking about why God does not reveal Himself physically, irrefutably. He certainly could, if He desired. So much struggle in life would be gone if He would just do that. All the religious wars would end. All the bickering over who has got His Revelation exactly right would be silenced. All the families grieving over lost loved ones who don't believe would be comforted. It seems to make so much sense for God to just materialize. So why doesn't He?

Of course, I don't know. However, it seems that one thing must be true. Faith, believing without seeing, must be of value in ways I cannot fully comprehend. And so God tells us that we will walk through the valley of the shadow of death, and we will not touch His physical hand, but we will know He is there nonetheless. And something miraculous and critical must happen within us when His presence is felt, but not seen. Somewhere in that process, fear is cast out. The darkness may remain, but it will have no power over us.

Psalm 23:1-6 (NIV)
Psalm 23 A psalm of David. [1] The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. [2] He makes me lie down in green pastures,he leads me beside quiet waters, [3] he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. [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. [5] You prepare a table before mein the presence of my enemies.You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. [6] Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.



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