Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for you are with me.
–
Psalm 23:4
I heard the story of an elderly minister who liked to visit people in hospitals. He often would take along a little, embroidered bookmark that he carried in his Bible. On the back of the bookmark were a group of tangled threads with no apparent pattern. He would hand this bookmark, with the back facing up, to those who were hurting or upset and say, “Look at that and tell me what it says.” As they looked at all the tangled threads, they would say, “I have no idea what it says. It doesn’t seem to say anything.” Then he said, “Now, turn it over.” As they would flip that bookmark over, they saw the words, “God is love.” The minister would say, “Many times as we look at what God is doing, we just see tangled threads with no rhyme or reason. But from God’s perspective, He is dealing with us in love, and He knows what He is doing.”–
Psalm 23:4
God is love. Everything He does is inspired by love. His relationship with us, His children, is guided purely by love. In the midst of challenges, pain, grief, or trials, God seems far away from us. In such situations we are tempted to doubt the love of God. We feel God has forsaken us. But that is far from the truth. He will never leave us or forsake us. His presence and love is always with us.
The next time you think it is all over for you, just remember how things turned out for Joseph in prison, for Daniel in the den of lions, for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the fiery furnace, for Peter in prison and for Martha and Mary when their brother died.
You see, things can look bad at one moment, but then God will step in and turn events around. Then suddenly, you’ll look back and say, “Now I understand what God was doing.”
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your presence and love even in my darkest moments.
Scriptural Reading:
Psalm 23:1-6
#Shalom!
