“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies”
This passage is often quoted in an almost boastful manner…But it hit me differently this morning… It had a comforting, but ominous tone.
The passage doesn’t say IF I walk through the valley of death…It says I WILL walk through it…. I am not carried, I don’t fly…I walk. It doesn’t say I am strolling through a plush garden …it says I am in a deep dark valley, and I am at times assigned the task of putting one foot in front of the other just to get through it.
It is the valley of the shadow of death…the ultimate predator - a dark frightening place. A table is prepared for me but not with friends …sometimes I must sit with enemies who want to destroy me.
Yet, in the midst of all of this- I do not fear, I am protected by the Shepherd, and I am not alone – through the struggle, this is what comforts me.
Too often we try to portray the Christian life as a carefree walk in the park…but you were not given the full armor of God so you could walk in the park…it was provided so you could walk through the valley. You wear armor to do battle.
People don’t identify with the prosperity gospel because it doesn’t sync up with what they see in the world… The lost see our pristine steeples and our flawless veneers - and look elsewhere for comfort.
We need to get rid of the “perfect life” social media façade, and speak the truth… We’re in a raging battle – the war is all around us…. but we are not alone, we are not afraid - and though bloodied and bruised at times - we are more than victorious.
Drop the perfect Christian charade – be transparent, show your wounds…and others will seek you out …Then you can do battle together… Armor on - walking through the valley without fear, fighting right beside each other.
“There is a beautiful transparency to honest disciples who never wear a false face and do not pretend to be anything but who they are.” - Brennan Manning
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