Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff— they comfort me.” vs. 4
Psalm 23:4-6
There is a lot to be troubled about in our good but broken world. Even if we don’t believe in climate change, global warming cannot be denied, and we’re feeling its effects in a myriad of ways. The war in Gaza continues with little prospect of even a ceasefire agreement to end the humanitarian suffering. China is threatening Taiwan. The Ukrainian war continues. Refugees are on the move, more than ever before in history. Atomic bomb stockpiles are being replenished. The internet, once hailed as a boon to human development, has proven to be a cesspool of misinformation, lies, and deception. There is good reason for us to be frightened about the future! But in the midst of all that scary stuff, people of faith continue to find comfort and hope in scripture, and no passage is dearer to our hearts than the Twenty-third Psalm. There is no reason for existential fear because we aren’t alone! God is never apart from us, even in our darkest valleys, and evil will never have the last word. We have a Shepherd who loves sacrificially and unconditionally, and as the arms of the Shepherd embrace us, our fears fall away and we find comfort. And that’s no pious malarkey! It really does happen. Even now God brings precious consolation to believers of every folk and nation. And blessed are those who know this to be true!
Thought for the Day: Why do I not fear the future?
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