Healing Rays of Righteousness

My Song of Confidence in God

The multiple difficult experiences of the past several weeks have me leaning heavy into Psalm 23, King David’s song of confidence in God, for the comfort and encouragement I greatly need in the present circumstances.

Over the years I have frequently turned to Psalm 23 for the reassurance and strength I needed to live through the difficult and painful experiences of life. And as a pastor and chaplain I have shared this psalm with many others in their times of suffering because I believe this psalm declares an excellent summary of the Christian perspective for all of life, including suffering.

Psalm 23 is one the best-known and most quoted passages from the Bible. Even those who seldom read the Bible can quote at least a line or two from it, because they have heard it so often spoken at funerals. But if you think of Psalm 23 as only being an appropriate funeral text, you will miss the fact that this Psalm is mostly about living, not dying. In fact, only one verse references death, while the other five verses speak about good, abundant living.

Although many of us are used to hearing the King James version of verse four as “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death …,” the underlying Hebrew words can also mean simply “place of deep darkness.”  And so, the New International version, which I prefer, reads “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, (of hurt, pain, suffering and loss) I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and staff they comfort me.”

Psalm 23:4 candidly faces the inevitable experiences of suffering and fear. It does not say “If I walk” but says “Even though I walk through the darkest valley ….”  The comforting power of Psalm 23 comes from its use of these two key words: “though” and “through” – the same word except for the single letter “r.”  That one little letter makes all the difference in the world. It is the letter that turns your “though” into a “through.” Dark valleys are not resting places, but passageways.

 “Though” none of us journey through life without walking into a valley of darkness and doubt, the psalmist assures us that God does not intend for us to stay there. The valley is something one goes “through.”  Yes, we can walk through our problems. We can walk through our sorrows. We can walk through our pain. We can walk through our screw-ups and life-threatening situation without fear of evil because the Lord, our Shepherd, journeys through with us; leading the way with his rod and staff at the ready to protect and rescue us, if and when needed.

Psalm 23:4 is a statement of confidence in God’s shepherding us during the difficult and troubling stretches of life. The reason we are not overwhelmed by fear is because God the Shepherd is with us and his rod and staff are at the ready to protect and guide us. And his powerful, caring presence comforts and reassures us in the midst of the threatening darkness.

Furthermore, Psalm 139 can be read as evidence that God has journeyed through the dark valley ahead of us, making a way through. “Where can I go from your spirit?  Where can I flee from your presence?  If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make by bed in the depths, you are there.  If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,’ even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.”  (Psalm 139:7-12).

King David concludes is song of confidence saying, “Surely your goodness and love shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

This is why I choose to lean into King David’s song of confidence in God’s presence and power for the comfort and encouragement I need during the difficult and painful experiences of life. And I encourage you to do the same.

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Ray M. Geigley – “Healing Rays of Righteousness” – www.geigler13.worpress.com – 10/16/24

Finding Courage in Life’s Storms

Life’s Storms – We experience them as sudden and unexpected events in our life, whether they be storms of nature, economic downturn, health crisis, or death of a loved one.  Storms are often very scary with their deepening darkness and increasing turbulence, causing us to feel helpless, hopeless, and terrified.  These raging, out-of-control storms loudly threaten our emotional and spiritual stability as well as our physical life. 

I believe the story in Mark 6:45-52 truly illustrates what Jesus did, does, and always will do for his followers when they are afflicted and threatened by stormy events in their life. 

It was in the early morning hours, during the fourth watch of the night, between three and six o’clock, when suddenly the disciples are caught in the middle of the lake by a strong storm of wild winds and high waves over which they had no control. As the storm’s intensity grew, so did their anxiety and fear.

Remember, it was after Jesus’ miracle of feeding a large crowd of people with only 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish, that “Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him” to the other side of the sea. Then after dismissing the crowd, Jesus “went up on a mountainside to pray.”

While the text doesn’t say this, I’m inclined to think that at least some, if not all, of Jesus’ praying was for the disciples that he had earlier sent to journey across deep waters at night.  I believe Jesus kept his eye on the storm developing over the lake and the increasing difficulty his disciples were having in keeping their boat afloat, for the text does say that Jesus saw them “straining at the oars, because the wind was against them.”

 It was then that Jesus “went out to them, walking on the lake.”  Caught in a fierce storm while in the middle of a large sea during the night was frightening and exhausting hard work to stay afloat.  And then to see a ghost walking across the stormy waves toward them was terrifying, possibly signaling their certain death by drowning.

However, it was in that moment of awful terror and hopelessness, that Jesus identifies himself saying, “Take courage!  It is I.  Don’t be afraid.”  He then climbs into the boat with them, and the storm ceases, making the deep waters calm again.  Stunned with amazement, the disciples were speechless, having just experienced a truth about Jesus that we all need to learn and remember during ugly storms in our own life.

The truth is that in all times of difficult and stormy life events, we do not struggle alone, for Jesus is watching and praying for us.   And when the storm becomes severe and terrifying, Jesus comes, walking across and on top of the raging storm in our life, and with his calm and strong voice bids us to “Take courage!  It is I.  Don’t be afraid.”

I believe this about Jesus because I have experienced it to be true.  He always comes to us in the midst of the terrifying storm.  He doesn’t begin by overruling the forces of nature or of evil that threaten us, but instead he comes, first calling us to look up, to see the reality of His presence and not be afraid.  Then he climbs into the situation with us and calms the raging sea of turmoil around us. 

When it is the darkest, he comes.  When we are the weariest, he comes.  When the sea is so wide and our boat is so small and the storms of life are raging, he comes.  When we are up a creek with no paddle, and even if we had a paddle, our arms are too tired to hold it, he comes.  When it is too dark to see, or worst yet, too dark to hope, Jesus comes. He comes, and his presence quiets our fears and doubts.

Some of the most assuring words we can hear in the midst of any frightening, exhausting experience are the words of Jesus, “Take courage!  It is I.  Don’t be afraid.”  He comes to calm our greatest fears with a pledge of his unshakable, ever-loving, almighty presence, as recorded in Hebrews 13:5, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” 

Yes, his presence reassures us. The psalmist testifies, “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4).

O Lord Jesus, please come by here?  We need you now.  Some are weary from struggling, some are fearful, some have given up hope, many are crying.  “O Lord, come by here!”

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Ray M. Geigley – “Healing Rays of Righteousness” – www.geigler13.wordpress.com– 10/09/24