Just before I closed my eyes for the evening, the phone
rang. Late night phone calls rarely bring great news and this was no exception.
The caller ID listed the call as unknown. I reeled with even greater alarm. It
was a voicemail from the school district that my son attends. A district wide
threat was made via e-mail that promised extreme violence without specification
of campuses.
The threat came on the hills of threats towards school
districts in California and New York as well as the multi-sight attack in
Paris, France.
Psalm 23:4New King James Version (NKJV)
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.
When you really think about everything that is going on in
our local, national and global existence, we are constantly threatened with
life suffocating circumstances.
If the threat doesn’t take you out, the anxiety over the
threat will cause you to contemplate quitting.
In Psalm 23, David the Psalmist gave guidance on how to
handle life’s death threats.
Threats are like shadows. Many of them are superficial or
lack the substance to do anything substantial. I am not diminishing the fact
that shadows can be intimidating, but I am saying that small subjects cast
considerable yet innocuous shadows. I read that no one has ever been bitten by
a shadow….
We have dark spots in life. The moments are scary and
intimidating. But, like the best friend that screams with you on the big roller
coaster, holds your hand on the airplane, or walks you through the halls on
your first day of school – you have an eternal companion for your shadowy
circumstances.
Although you can’t physically see God beyond his outstanding
creations, you can find solace in your dark spots. An example of everything you
will go through or can avoid is found in the Bible. It is your ultimate
teacher’s manual for the open book test called life.
Last week, I asked my son to retrieve something from my
bedroom. The room was dark and what I needed was in the back. I decided to
follow him and see if he would be successful. After receiving his instructions,
my son ran to the room and dropped to his hands and knees before entering. He
could see enough to get to his destination but wasn’t tall enough to add
sufficient light. So, instead of abandoning his purpose from fear of the
shadows or fall over the room’s obstacles, he dropped down and eased his way
through.
When you can’t run – walk.
When you can’t walk – crawl.
God has your hand and the moment you drop down to
acknowledge His guidance – You will more readily recognize that He will guide
you. Instead of fearing the shadows, have faith in the Healer, the Guide, the
Comforter, the Protector, the Savior, and YOUR FRIEND.
My son went to school and came home safely – Thank You God!
