The Shadow of Death
During my husband’s sermon last Sunday, he used Psalms 23:4 as one of his Scripture references. He read, "Even 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."
Raised in a Christian home, I’ve read and heard this verse hundreds of times. This time it spoke to me like never before, especially the part "walk through the valley of the shadow of death…"
When I think of a shadow, I think of darkness, fear, coldness, chills, death, and evil. I picture myself cringing and looking for a place to hide. I’ve always hated darkness. As a child, I dreaded my parents turning off my bedroom light at bedtime because I feared seeing the shadows on my wall.
The word shadow also brings to mind a time during my late teen years while fighting God’s future plans for my life. One night before falling asleep, I looked toward the doorway of my bedroom and saw a huge, dark figure there. It frightened me so badly that I screamed. A friend staying with me at the time suddenly sprang from the bed demanding to know what happened.
"I saw a huge, black shadow in the doorway," I cried pulling the covers over my face.
"Cindy, there’s nothing in the doorway," she said dropping back into bed.
To this day, my friend teases me about this incident, but I know what I saw and the terror I felt. That frightening shadow shrinks in comparison to the shadow I’ve experienced recently. With the deaths in our family and church in the last five months, I’ve definitely walked through the shadow of death. In fact, I’m not quite through walking yet.
Death causes the most frightening shadow because it renders us helpless. We walk through many struggles in life but this one totally overwhelms us.
Sadly, people tend to unintentionally say the wrong words, do the wrong deeds, and treat us the wrong way during and after the death of a loved one. Our only true Helper, Jesus Christ walks through this shadow with us comforting us as only He can.
Psalm 107:13-14 strengthens me, "Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom and broke away their chains."
Cry to the Lord and wait on Him to help you out of death’s darkness and gloom. Only He can break away the chains of sadness bringing hope once again.
Give me your reactions to this posting.
Raised in a Christian home, I’ve read and heard this verse hundreds of times. This time it spoke to me like never before, especially the part "walk through the valley of the shadow of death…"
When I think of a shadow, I think of darkness, fear, coldness, chills, death, and evil. I picture myself cringing and looking for a place to hide. I’ve always hated darkness. As a child, I dreaded my parents turning off my bedroom light at bedtime because I feared seeing the shadows on my wall.
The word shadow also brings to mind a time during my late teen years while fighting God’s future plans for my life. One night before falling asleep, I looked toward the doorway of my bedroom and saw a huge, dark figure there. It frightened me so badly that I screamed. A friend staying with me at the time suddenly sprang from the bed demanding to know what happened.
"I saw a huge, black shadow in the doorway," I cried pulling the covers over my face.
"Cindy, there’s nothing in the doorway," she said dropping back into bed.
To this day, my friend teases me about this incident, but I know what I saw and the terror I felt. That frightening shadow shrinks in comparison to the shadow I’ve experienced recently. With the deaths in our family and church in the last five months, I’ve definitely walked through the shadow of death. In fact, I’m not quite through walking yet.
Death causes the most frightening shadow because it renders us helpless. We walk through many struggles in life but this one totally overwhelms us.
Sadly, people tend to unintentionally say the wrong words, do the wrong deeds, and treat us the wrong way during and after the death of a loved one. Our only true Helper, Jesus Christ walks through this shadow with us comforting us as only He can.
Psalm 107:13-14 strengthens me, "Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom and broke away their chains."
Cry to the Lord and wait on Him to help you out of death’s darkness and gloom. Only He can break away the chains of sadness bringing hope once again.
Give me your reactions to this posting.
posted by Cindy Kingsbury @ 3:23 PM
6 Comments:
At 10:48 PM,
Nate said…
Mom,
It encourages my heart hearing you trust in God to help you through all the pain you have been experiencing in your family. You are right - no words that people say can comfort you in the way Jesus can. I love you Mom and once again a beautiful article that you have written.
Miss you,
Your son
At 10:20 AM,
Cindy Kingsbury said…
Thanks for your encouragement, Nathan. I love you too.
Mom
At 6:55 PM,
Cindy Kingsbury said…
Dear Aunt Joyce:
Thanks for commenting. I'm having a rough time this week. Holidays are the hardest time, don't you think? Mom & Dad are having a horrible week, especially Mom because that Paul wasn't at their house for our July 4th picnic. It seemed so sad and strange not seeing him sitting where he normally does on their front porch. We all had a crying spell last night. I'll definitely pray for you and I appreciate your prayers for me.
Love ya, Cindy
At 9:34 PM,
Shannon said…
The hard part about these times is that you know you will go through it, we're always encouraged, that things will get better and that you will soon have joy. But the hard part is the acutal getting though it. And I've learned recently and felt God speaking to me, that what we're supposed to do in that grieving time- that in between time, is to pull close to God. To let him hold you and rock you. I listened to a song recently that really helped me hear from God. It was "Be still my soul, the Lord is on thy side." And I felt like God was saying- Shannon, I'm on your side, don't you see, I always want joy for you, so no matter what I may throw your way, I have your back, just turn to me and pull close. What is better than that?
At 5:56 AM,
C-Man said…
Cindy,
i have this several times and i draw something each time i read it.
I am still forming an opinion. But i can say, God will make his point known even when we are not placing our eyes on him. I know he does not force us, but from time to time he will allow things to happen.
carter
At 7:50 PM,
Anonymous said…
umm. wow.
well I've never really liked death darkness or shadows. one of my greatest fears is being murdered. I get creeped out when I have to be home alone at night. This piece is powerful.
Melissa K. Male
Post a Comment
<< Home