Psalm 23:4

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 ~ Psalm 23:4

Our lives may change in an instant, without our consent, or our advice, and our path turns toward the darkness. I had a conversation yesterday and we talked about how age leads us to such a different path at times then what we expected, or more often than not, did not expect. For her, independence was taken due to the fragility of her body and muscles. Her mind was clear and strong, unlike so many who deal with another type of sickness, but physically, she had to depend upon others in many ways. When we are young, and especially when we are young and without any form of limitation, we want to skip over the darkness, to not turn its way and look at what it might bring. Our conscious mind does not, nor will not, take it in. It is how we enter the darkness which matters most. This traveler in Psalm 23, knows he is still with the shepherd, his caregiver and protector. As he travels, though the darkness comes upon him, he walks in confidence and without fear. The sunlight is above him, he knows that, but it does not reach into his journey, and so through it he must continue on. We know the sunlight is above us too, when we come into our dark valleys, and though we strive, we just cannot reach it, nor it reach us. But if we walk through the dark like this traveler, with confidence and fearlessness, the presence of God will touch us. We have a very present God, and though He often seems distant, when in our darkest moments, it is then He is the closest. How we live is far more important than how we die. If we live with the confidence of the psalmist, our dark moments and our death will reflect our life’s journey of faith and hope in a God who is our comfort.

Devotion by Pastor Julia