Corona Devo 745

On the outside looking in...

No, actually sometimes it feels like we are on the inside (of our mind, our burdens, our grief, our stress, our sorrow, our prison), and we are looking out to everyone and everything on the outside.  But we are separated.  There is a barrier between us and them.

Sometimes the barrier is perspective.  Their smiles, their carefree attitude, their being-unaware-or-unaffected by the pressures of the world and today---it's a barrier that they have crossed but we cannot.  Not today, not right now.  Pinned to the ground by the pressures of our mind and heart--we have a barrier that is unsurmountable, but we don't have the energy to attempt escape anyway.

Sometimes the barrier is tangible, physical, actual.  Life doesn't just "feel" heavy, it is.  The weight is unbearable and isolating.  The sorrow suffocates.  The pain paralyzes.  The hopelessness halts us in our tracks.

And (regardless of the real or imagined causes), we stay locked inside of ourselves…looking out …but unable to get out.

It feels like death.  

Or...like the valley of the shadow of death.

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.”  ~Psalm 23:4

Wherever we are today…even in the valley of the shadow of death—God is with us.  His rod and staff---(his ways and Word) they can comfort us. 

And they do.

Jesus meets us in our prison today.  The one keeping us locked up from the inside, and barring our ability to partake in life on the outside--He meets us there and He is here..

Receive His Word.  It frees us from the cell we’ve been locked in, and replaces fear with comfort.

Even though (X,Y,Z)…, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”  ~Psalm 23:4

He’s right here.  Jesus speaks His Word and His life right into us.  Jesus came to earth from Heaven to get inside our heads and hearts when they are full of fear/lies/sorrow/and stresses that are strangling us.  He is the only One that releases the shackles that bind us and by His rod and his staff, and His steadfast love for us--He opens the door to our freedom.  When we trust Him within our valley, He leads us out of it.  For you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”  ~Psalm 23:4   

If we are walking through the valley today…

If we are on the outside looking in today...

No, if it feels like we are on the inside (of our mind, our burdens, our grief, our stress, our sorrow, our prison) today…and we are looking out to everyone and everything on the outside... 

Jesus sticks His staff through all that separates us, and He lifts His rod high for us to see and follow.  He breaks the (mental/physical/spiritual/emotional) barrier between us and them that has been keeping us inside of ourselves and outside of community/joy/peace and everyday life.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death…

Even though...

Keep walking.

Keep walking through the valley of the shadow of death...

Whether we're on the outside looking in, or stuck on the inside looking out , Jesus is right here with us. 

Wherever we are today…even in the valley of the shadow of death—God is with us.  His rod and staff---(his ways and Word) they can comfort us. 

And they do.

If we will trust Jesus and allow Him to come inside our valley today, He will lead us outside of it and comfort us.  

These verses can be our first steps.  

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.”  ~Psalm 23:4

 

Blessings,

Sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com