“Yea, 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 (ESV)
Sometimes it feels like all hell is breaking loose in life and circumstances are just pressing in against you. It’s important to know that even though you “walk through the valley of the shadow of death”, you are walking through it. Don’t camp there – walk through it! We live in a fallen world and things do go wrong from time to time and we may be going through what seems to be “the valley of the shadow of death”, but it won’t last forever and we’re just passing through. God has set you up to reign through “the valley of the shadow of death” so that you’ll come through the negative circumstances stronger and better than you went in.
Jesus said that in this world we will have trouble, but He also said that we don’t have to let the circumstances determine our emotions – no matter what’s going on in the world and in your life, you can experience constant joy and peace (John 16:33).
“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 (ESV)
Even in the middle of chaos and death, you do not have to fear anything because God is with you! Fear is crippling and will suck the life right out of you. Fear tries to get you to take your focus off of God and His Word, and it tries to get you to be consumed with the circumstances and negative reports coming your way. Fear weakens your faith - and faith (looking to, trusting in and relying on God) is what you need to overcome.
Fear is not an uncontrollable force. You have the power and ability to reject fear and refuse its influence over you. Jesus encourages us on numerous occasions in the Word not to fear, and that means that it is entirely possible. You do not have to fear anything! In actual fact, because of the Greater One in you (1 John 4:4), fear is scared of you!
On a number of occasions Jesus said “Do not fear” or “Do not worry” or something similar. While it is an encouragement that we do not have to fear, worry or be anxious, it is stated as more of a command. This means that He is instructing us not to give into the negative emotions of fear. It would be unjust for Him to give an instruction like that if it were not possible; therefore it is possible!
You need to know that fear is a choice - so choose not to fear.