“God, you are with me.” What a powerful statement of faith that is!
How does that make you feel? Do you feel safe? Do you feel at peace? Do you sense the “blessed assurance” of God’s Holy Spirit in your life?
The psalmist says that even though we walk through “the darkest valley,” we fear no evil. The King James Version of the Bible, the one that many of us grew up reciting, says, “the valley of the shadow of death.”
The shadow represents the uncertainty in our lives. The uncertainty of floods, tornadoes, hurricanes,
earthquakes — climate change. The uncertainty of aggression through war, gun violence, human
trafficking and international tensions. The uncertainty of employment, inflation, illness — a global
pandemic. Yes, the shadow of death is all around us.
Yet, in Christ, we can boldly proclaim, “You are with me. Your rod will protect me from uncertain foes
who wish to do me harm, and your staff will guide me on the right path for your name’s sake. I fear no
evil.” In so doing, you proclaim God’s presence of peace — peace amid uncertainty — in your own life.
Central Presbyterian Church 