A Moment With GodSample

A LIFE OF COURAGE

The Bible speaks about people of courage who conquered great battles not with sword and shield but with unimaginable things like torch, trumpet and singing. Their courage was not because of the tools they used but because of the Lord on whose word they were fighting the battle. Courage is not the absence of fear but the presence of the Lord. If God be for us, who can be against us?

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

The Psalmist faced many trials as a shepherd boy in the field, as God's anointed in the palace and as a king. Position does not matter. Age does not matter. Trials come to all of us.

Even though I walk through the valley. David had gone through struggles, distress and pain. He was prepared to go through anything as long as the Lord was with him. And when the Lord is with us, there is no fear of evil.

This confident statement was not because of years of experience or past victories or people's support, but because of His Shepherd. The staff talks about support, authority and punishment. More than these, it is the presence of the Lord. As long as the rod is in the hands of the Shepherd, there is nothing to fear. The sheep always knows that the Shepherd is there to guide, to rebuke, to comfort. The Shepherd's way of counting the sheep is to lift the rod and let the sheep go under the rod. For the sheep, it matters a lot to know that he is under the divine authority of the Shepherd. The Shepherd does not prevent us from walking through the valley - could be any kind of valley. A valley of gloom, valley of pain, valley of uncertainty, valley of evil, valley of threat. No matter how deep the valley, the presence of the Lord is what is important.

Two things can happen:

• The Lords walks with us through the valley experience
• He strengthens us as we go through the valley

Let us not forget to talk to the Lord as we go through the valley.

The Shepherd knows it. He has gone through it. He is there. We can face enemies, insults, ridicule or uncertainty. His rod comforts us.

We can have Jesus, yet face storms.

Jesus was present at the wedding at Cana and they ran out of wine.

Jesus was present in the boat and they faced the storm.

The storms in our lives remind us that we have a God who is greater than any storm, that we are human and need divine intervention, that we are powerless and the Lord is powerful.

When you walk through the valley, keep talking to the Lord of the valley for He is the Lord of the valleys and the hills.