- With Me
Psalm 23.4
For thou art with me.
For comfort, safety and security this is all a sheep really needs to know: that the shepherd is there, near by, with him. And this is the Lord’s unconditional promise couched in various phrasing: “Lo, I am with you always.” The Presence of God “with me” is all that I really need, for if God Himself is present then all of God’s resources and riches are available as well. The promise of His presence is powerful.
When the sheep knows and senses the shepherd’s presence he can enjoy the pasture and the stream, play and romp, graze contentedly, rest comfortably and love life. But as soon as he looks around and does not see the shepherd panic sets in, fear takes hold, and anxiety seizes him. Thankfully, the shepherd notices and comes to get the wanderer.
The good news promise of the presence of God is for us for all of the time, but in this instance it is meant as God’s Promise for a specific season: “when I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.” Then He is with me. I will fear no evil. “The shadow of death” can be any time of extremely difficulty, when the possibilities of actual evil lurk in every shadow and around every corner. It may be sickness, loss, depression, bad feelings with real threats and dangers, but I can triumphantly declare, “I will fear no evil, for You are with me.” God is for us; who can be against us? God’s love powerfully overwhelms all the negative forces threatening me.
Death is the valley, but it only has the appearance of danger, not the reality of it. As the Shepherd and I wind across the valley darkness increases and dangers multiply while shadows play across the path, but they are shadows of evil, not realities of it. He has abolished Death, and when the light appears the shadow is forgotten. We walk together through the valley toward the light. The valley is a place of passing through, not a dwelling place. There is no evil to fear if He is with me: sin, the evil, has been forgiven and has no power; death, the evil, is no longer the end but an entrance to life; the devil, the evil one, has been destroyed.
God is with us all the time, though usually we are not consciously aware of Him. He is also powerfully present to bless when we really need him, but again we may not be conscious of Him. Our awareness of Him being with us or not does not make God any more or less with us. “He is with me.” That is a promise; that is a fact; the truth of it is apprehended by faith, not by feeling or experience. Accept the fact: the Shepherd is there. Say it until you believe it: “You are with me!”