Walking With Christ

Psalm 23:4 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.(ESV)

I know I did this one a month ago, but it’s one that I keep going back to.

For those who are hurting, angry, sad, lonely, depressed, or in any other place where they feel far from God, His grace, His light, and His love:

Father, how did we get here to this place of brokenness where pain is constant and the darkness threatens everything we do? How did we fall so far or wander so much that we could be this lost? I lift my eyes. Where does my help come from? My help comes from heaven above, from the maker of heaven and earth. I lift my hands in prayer and supplication! I sing praises to you through great sobbing tears because I know that You are who You are no matter where I am. I know that You are with me no matter where I roam. You will be there for me, waiting for me to turn to You, because You are never more than a step away. When I’m tired of fighting, I’ll be on my knees knowing that You are on the throne, but I’ve never been closer to Your heart. Not a tear is wasted, for You count them all. You count every tear. You know every beat of my heart. You know every ache and sorrow. You know every step I take.

I pray to you when I’m sad. I pray to you when I’m mad. That doesn’t change who You are. You meet me where I am to tell me the truth behind the lies. You tell me that I am Your child and nothing can change that. You tell me that there is no distance I can travel, or place I can go, or road I can take that can keep You from me in this life. The lies of the enemy will not stand. Strongholds will be broken. The light will shine. Your love will find me where I’m at because you are a God who cares. You give rest to the weary. You give peace to the brokenhearted. You love us despite our best efforts. All we can do is to sing Your praises even in the deepest parts of the valley.

Amen!

You have permission to not be ok. You have permission to feel the hurt. You have permission to be angry, to stop and to grieve. You also have permission to let go and heal. God can handle us at our worst, and His love doesn’t change. When you’re angry, pray angry. When you’re sad, pray sad. When you’re hurting, pray through the hurt. When you’re confused, pray that He take you by the hand. Pray that He comes to you where you are to show you the lies of the enemy and give you His wisdom and His truth.

I didn’t find salvation in a church. I didn’t find Jesus while listening to Christian music. I didn’t see His love lived out in the lives of those around me. I wasn’t surrounded by throngs of people who loved me and wanted me to join them in heaven. No, I found Jesus in the parking lot of a hospital. I was alone, hurting, and so angry at the world that I just wanted to watch it burn. It was in the deepest part of the valley where His light finally reached me. I was the one He left the ninety-nine to find. I’ve been the prodigal son. I’ve been the self-righteous brother. It’s only in looking back that I can really see that He was always there.