Higher Ground
Psalms 23:4 AMP
Even though I walk through the [sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort and console me.
When I read the twenty-third Psalm, I picture David sitting in a beautiful field watching his sheep enjoy green pastures, his legs propped up on a log, hands behind his head, relaxing by a refreshing stream of water.
The truth of the matter is, when David wrote this Psalm, he was hiding in a dark cave and exiled from his own people with a death sentence hanging over his head.
We cannot be certain what David was thinking as he penned the twenty-third Psalm, but we do know there’s a shift in his writing. For the first time, David uses the personal pronoun “I” and begins his conversation with his Shepherd rather than talking about his Shepherd. David reassures himself that he may face life threatening circumstances, even death itself, but he will not face these things alone.
I notice an unexpected pattern between David’s process to become a king and my faith journey as a follower of Jesus. When I decided to follow Jesus, I expected life to be free of pain and suffering. I was told Jesus picked up His cross and died for my sins so I could live life happy, free, and abundantly. No one told me God would ask me to pick up my cross and die daily as a pleasing sacrifice to Him (a truth that would’ve been helpful to know). (Matthew 16:24) So, when I faced pain and suffering, I was shocked and left with two options.
One, change my belief system or two, change my circumstances. Since I couldn’t change my circumstances, I started to study the Bible to learn what it meant to be a follower of Jesus. I looked at His journey in this world and the life of His disciples. I was comforted to discover they endured pain and suffering, too. Jesus was misunderstood, accused unjustly, and rejected by those around Him. After Jesus left this world, the lives of His disciples were no better.
Sometimes, we cannot fully appreciate the beautiful view on top of the mountain until we experience life in the valley. However, we must remember God will never allow us to walk through a painful and dangerous valley without taking our hand to guide us. He is leading us along the narrow pathway so that we can experience the presence of God. In my heart, I can almost hear Jesus whisper, “Keep moving, don’t stop now, you are closer to Me than you know!
