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. Psalm 23:4
The valley is this verse represents a low place – a place of difficulty, of struggle, of trials. The Bible has much to say about trials in the Christian’s experience. James chapter 1, 1 Peter chapter 1, and other places describe that the Christian life comes packaged with trials, struggles, and difficulties.
The truth is that sometimes the Shepherd leads us into valleys.
But why? Why does the Good Shepherd lead us through valleys?
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing James 1:2-4
Answer: because it is the best path for me! He uses trials to make me perfect and complete.
God only leads me where He knows I need to go – He does not waste one single trip!
To really have this make sense and come together, pay close attention to the word shadow. Can a shadow hurt you? Of course not. We know that! But can a shadow frighten you? Come on be honest. How many of us have been scared of a little ol’ shadow before?
The point is that there may the appearance for a moment of something that can seemingly harm us, but ultimately, finally, whatever is happening in the valley cannot really touch us.
It’s a widely circulated idea that as a leader you should “only do what only you can do”. In other words, focus on your calling and ignore other (potentially good) opportunities.
If lived out as a general rule, this idea has merit. It creates and maintains focus in our highest priorities, those pertaining to our calling.
Saying “no” to most things helps you say “yes” to the things you were made for.
But if adhered to rigidly, this idea becomes unbiblical quickly. It prevents me from serving in the moment. It prevents me from participating in Divine opportunities. It prevents me from following the Holy Spirit’s direction.
Sometimes I’m the “only” one God has asked, even though there are others who are more qualified.
And that qualifies me. It’s my opportunity.
There is a balance to find here.
Jesus made breakfast for the disciples on the beach. Clearly, others would have been qualified to start the fire. He took the opportunity to serve. (John 21:9).
I should do what only I can do (my calling) , and many times a little more (my opportunities).
Senate Chaplain Barry Black opened Day 6 of the Senate Impeachment Trial of President Donald Trump with this prayer:
LET US PRAY. ETERNAL GOD, THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE. UNITE OUR SENATORS IN THEIR STRIVING TO DO YOUR WILL. LORD, YOU HAVE BEEN OUR HELP IN AGES PAST. YOU ARE OUR HOPE FOR THE YEARS TO COME. WE TRUST THE POWER OF YOUR PREVAILING PROVIDENCE TO BREAK THIS IMPEACHMENT TRIAL TO THE CONCLUSION YOU DESIRE. LORD, WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOUR THOUGHTS ARE NOT OUR THOUGHTS. AND YOUR WAYS ARE NOT OUR WAYS. FOR AS THE HEAVENS ARE HIGHER THAN THE EARTH, SO ARE YOUR THOUGHTS HIGHER THAN OUR THOUGHTS. AND YOUR WAYS HIGHER THAN OUR WAYS. LORD, WE LOVE YOU. EMPOWER OUR SENATORS, RENEW THEIR STRENGTH. WE PRAY IN YOUR DEPENDABLE NAME, AMEN.
In this prayer Chaplain Black uses Biblical language directly from John 14:6, Isaiah 55:8-9, Isaiah 40:31, in addition to quoting a traditional Christian hymn from Isaac Watts, who drew from Psalm 90 for the lyrics. Clearly, a prayer to the God of the Bible was offered in Congress.
My immediate response upon listening to Chaplain Black’s prayer above was one of elation. What a wonderful moment where our country officially, publicly acknowledged the God of the Bible and called for His help in a national arena!
My next response was confusion. How is this possible? How could the same Senators, many of whom repeatedly fight against the expression of Christianity and the Bible in public places, allow such a prayer to happen?
How can prayer be allowed in Congress and not in public schools? It seems incongruous.
The answer, legally, comes from the Supreme Court. In a landmark ruling “Marsh vs Chambers” the Court ruled that “legislative prayer” is a different form and function that other public prayer, serving a more civic duty than a religious one. The Court held that legislative prayer was part of the “fabric of society” and thus admissible.
However, I am still confused.
If it can be ruled by the Supreme Court of the United States that Congressional prayer is acceptable due to its historical role in American society, why cannot the same argument be made for public prayer of all types?
I would call the situation astounding.
Regardless, I think we as believers can take great solace in the fact that there is still a remnant of Truth being proclaimed from the highest national platform, and that Truth expanding even further into the public sphere is not outside the realm of possibility. Be encouraged!
Vision is the ability to see what could be rather than what is.
Most leaders strive to have a clear vision. But where does vision come from? What are the possible sources? Our own heart can produce ideas and dreams, pictures of the future. Other people can give us thoughts and possibilities to contemplate. But if we listen to only ourselves, or to the wrong people, our vision can come from the wrong place and drive us in the wrong direction.
To guard against this danger, our vision source must be God Himself. Specifically, God gives us vision and direction for our life through the Bible:
Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; For they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, Because I keep Your precepts.
Psalm 119:97-100
When God through His Word is your counselor, you are wiser than any of the enemies that are out to destroy you: Satan, sin, evil people with wicked intentions. You are wiser! When God’s Word is with you – meaning you have memorized it – you have the greatest counselor the world has ever known! Your vision will be clear and right!
When you are meditating on it – turning in over in your heart and mind all day – God’s Word makes you wiser than the intelligent, smartest people in the room – the people that should be teaching you! You may be the one with the most dynamic vision, if you are the one meditating faithfully on God’s Word.
And last, when you apply it, God’s Word helps you understand more than those who are older than you (the “ancients”). Yes, we are called to respect our elders, but age does not always equate to being right. Test every advice and counsel against Scripture and be assured of clear vision.
Wisdom and understanding – vision – comes from memorizing, meditating on, and applying God’s Word.
We heard there was ash falling in Manila. As I stepped out onto the porch of our house I was immediately overwhelmed by what I liken to “black snow” falling everywhere. It was covering up the white bannisters, covering my patio umbrella, getting in my hair. Volcanic ash is not really ash per se, it is technically rock and glass – like a course ground coffee all over….well, everything. (I do feel Starbucks may have missed some sort of marketing opportunity here).
My next thought was “surely this is not good to breathe”, and I told my wife we should run to the store and buy some face masks. Upon arriving at the mall, we saw that many others had the same idea, and we were able to buy some of the last remaining masks in the store. Filtering masks are now a hot commodity in Manila, and I’ve learned what N95 means (look it up).
In processing all of these events,I am struck with two thoughts: how small we are and how great God is.
Left to our own devices, despite all of our technology as mankind, we have no way to stop this volcano should it decide to do something worse. No patch, no cap, no military grade stopper that can hold it back. Nothing to stop the earthquakes happening. And, left to my own self, the best thing I could do for my family was a dollar-store face mask.
When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor.
Psalm 8:3
Is there any thing about us that should cause God to be mindful of us? According to David in the Psalm above – no, not really. This volcano reminds me of that. ‘I got nothin’. It is humbling.
Yet God cares for me immensely! David is awestruck by the fact that the same God who created that volcano is the one Who, as he says, “visits” with us. He loves us so, that he visits with us! He came to be with us through His Son, and He is with us through His Spirit and His Word. He calls us His children!
I am reminded that God did not love me because of how great I am, but because of how great He is.
