[Unboxing Psalm 23: Treasures for Every Believer] You Are With MeSample

For You Are with Me

With the Valley of the Shadow of Death, David could be referring to physical death, “We all die, but I won’t fear that valley because God will be with me.”

About two years ago, I had been serving as hospital chaplain. There’s no greater privilege than being with someone when they go from this life to the next. The closer you get to death, the more God begins to peel away this life. He begins to show us reality of the next life, the reality of life with Him.

My wife’s stepfather had battled cancer for a number of years. It was his last time in the hospital; we knew the end was coming. He’d been moaning in intense pain for hours. Suddenly, he sat up bolt upright in bed and said, “Jehovah!” All the people in the room knew exactly what was going on. My father-in-law had just gotten a glimpse of the Lord. It was an amazing sight to see.

My own dad’s passing was six or seven years ago. He had skin cancer, and it had begun to metastasize into his lungs and into his brain. My dad was one of those gregarious guys who want to make sure everybody is well taken care of. We were with him from Thursday to Sunday, thinking this was the last time we would see him. We got a call that night and my dad had rallied. He was telling stories and jokes as only he could. But when Monday came, he lapsed; Tuesday morning, he went into a coma. We were at his bedside as each pause before his next breath got longer and longer. Finally, he breathed his last. There was absolute silence. My mom was still holding his hand. He had not moved for 36 hours, but 20 seconds later, he broke free of my mother’s hand. His hands came together on his chest. It was a posture of prayer. We had just witnessed my father’s first act of worship as he came before the Lord.

I am convinced that there is life after death. There is life with the King. David knows this. In the Valley of the Shadow of Death he says, “I will fear no evil, for You are with me.”