I SHALL NOT WANT FOR DIVINE PRESENCE

For You are with me… – Psalm 23: 4b

The Presence of the Shepherd makes all of the difference in the lives of the sheep. David being a shepherd knew the value and significance of His Shepherd’s Presence (Psalm 139). He emphatically declared his lack of fear based on the realization of the Shepherd’s Presence (Ps.23:4b). In practical settings, a shepherd would sometimes take his sheep up a very steep cliff to travel over a mountain. Where the trail is extremely narrow, a sheep that loses his foothold could slide into the valley beneath, to his death. David described this as “the valley of the shadow of death.” In order to safeguard the lives of the sheep therefore, the shepherd stands in the rear of the line of sheep and speaks to each one of his sheep, comforting them that he is near and they have nothing to fear (Jn. 10:27-28).

The realization of the Shepherd’s presence eliminates fear and deletes all sense of despair. Our Shepherd is always there with us, right by our sides, no matter the trouble we may be facing. The Unchanging Changer says: “…I am with you always, even to the end of the world”, and “…I will never leave you, nor forsake you” (Mt.28:20b; Heb. 13:5b, 8). The realization of Christ’s Presence enabled Paul to face very severe challenges on the pathway of density. Not only is our Shepherd ever-present, He never sleeps nor slumbers (Ps.121: 3-4). He builds a fence of protection around us, and watches over us, even while we sleep: “I will both lie down in peace, and sleep: for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety” (Ps.4:8).

The KEY to PEACE in the face of life’s dangers is to recognize that through it all, God is with us; to trust in His Presence and His Protection. As we refresh ourselves in the LORD and drink deeply of His Presence, we would be made ready to pour out love, time, talents, blessings, and grace into the lives of other people around us. Beloved, it is time to bring your anxieties out into the Light of God’s Presence, where you can deal with them by His Grace. When you concentrate on trusting Him, fear and despair will gradually lose their footholds in your heart. Faith will bear you up into your glorious future.