Новые времена Go back to the homepage Overcoming the shadows of everyday life As an insurance agent, I deal with death more than anyone else. At the height of COVID-19, four of my clients died of the virus and twelve died of various other diseases. Some went into eternity suddenly, while others suffered from lingering illnesses. Confronting the ominous shadow of death is never easy. A biblical passage often used in memorial services is the 22nd Psalm of David. I first learned these six verses by heart as a boy, and for the past 68 years, whenever I have faced adversity, especially in the "valley of the shadow of death" described in verse 4 of the short Psalm, I have received great encouragement. This is the verse: "If I go even through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, because You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me." This Psalm represents the good shepherd Jesus who will not allow Satan, the evil one, to harm those sheep who follow Him. Those who follow Jesus Christ are convinced that the "shadow of death" is just a shadow. As a child I was often afraid of shadows, but as I grew older my fear of the dark disappeared. I realized that shadows cannot harm us-they are harmless. This is true in every area of life. Shadows are nothing but the absence of light. Here is what the apostle states in John 1:1-5: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. It was in the beginning with God. All things through Him began to be, and without Him nothing began to be that began to be. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not embrace it." There has been darkness in this world since Adam and Eve tasted the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. This darkness will continue until Jesus returns in triumph. In the meantime, we must face certain shadows that creep into our lives. But that is no reason to fear the darkness they create. I have had to face extremely dark moments in the past, but I have never lost confidence that God would lead me through the valley of the shadow of death. Perhaps you can relate your own experience. Our spiritual enemy will try many ways to rob us of hope. In some ways, however, these dark moments become a test and an opportunity to draw closer to God and His Light, which will surely dispel all darkness. As James 1:2-3 urges, "Receive with great joy, my brethren, when you fall into various temptations, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience." Some remain in darkness all the time, struggling with the sins and addictions that control them. Most of us, however, only occasionally experience our darkest moments. But even a short time in the agony of darkness can make us feel like we have lost all hope. The last verse in Psalm 22 says, "So goodness and mercy shall accompany me all the days of my life, and I will abide in the house of the Lord many days." It took me 40 years to realize: this is exactly how God wanted me to be. I now joyfully declare my intention to remain in His eternal safe hands all the days of my life on earth. If you want to remain in the light, receive Jesus into your heart and ask Him to change you completely, to make you a very special child of the King – bringing you out of darkness into the light. © 2023, all rights reserved. Jim Langley is a writer with 30 years of experience. He also works as a life and health insurance agent. For the past several years, he has enjoyed writing articles about his relationship with God with 6. His goal is to encourage others to draw closer to Him as well. A longtime member of CBMC, he began writing Fourth Quarter Strategies in 2014. Questions for reflection/discussion How often do you think about death? Does that prospect frighten you? What about the "valley of the shadow of death" where unknown dangers seem to lurk? How do you deal with dark periods in your life? Psalm 22 speaks of a Shepherd who leads His sheep through a valley of shadows and darkness. Have you ever felt like one of those sheep, timid and defenseless, who wish there was a caring shepherd nearby to lead you to safety? Explain your answer. What dark valleys are you facing right now or have you faced in the recent past? How do you usually react when these circumstances arise? What are your "default settings" for overcoming trials and tribulations, whether at work or in your personal life? The last verse of Psalm 22 says, "So goodness and mercy shall accompany me all the days of my life, and I will abide in the house of the Lord many days. Do you have this hope, this unshakable confidence in God's love and protection? If so, describe what it means to you. NOTES. To learn more about what the Bible says about this topic, consider the following passages: Psalm 22:1-6; Isaiah 40:28-31; John 10:1-15, 11:25-26; 1 John 1:5-7.
