"Fearless and Comforted"

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me." (Psalms 23:4) Probably the most quoted verse in this Psalm, but many times taken out of context, this verse speaks of the action, which is the fruit of the knowledge that comes from knowing God is there, and that He is watching over you. This is an action, because it is a choice that we have, to be afraid of all that surrounds us or is presently pressing us, or believe that God is really taking care of us and even death cannot separate us from His care. I know; there are some things that just come upon us quickly and without warning, and we are shocked into a place where we have forgotten this rule; but God is not that far away! If we find ourselves in a place where we are not trusting God at His word, and have let any situation we are in take hold of our faith in Him, then really, all we need to do is ask His forgiveness. Am I saying that not trusting God is a sin? Is not loving God a sin? Of course it is!!! What is the fruit of our love for God? Is it not that we "trust Him with all of our heart, and lean not upon our own understanding"? Here is the thing about this thing that David is calling "evil"; that which he says, "I shall fear no evil"; because it is to mean something bad, or unintended harm or injury, or even death brought on by unkind or wicked men or diseases. Whatever it is that surrounds us, we have no control over those things, but God does, and God has promised that He will bring us through anything and everything. What we do have control over, is our trust in Him for those promises that He has promised to us! The trusting ability that we have in Him, is what we call FAITH; that is what faith means, that we trust in the Lord for all that He stands for: "For His Name's Sake"; His name being His reputation, fame, and His Glory. To understand that concept of what this means, we look to the beginning of this verse, as David says, "Yea, though I walk through"; which is him saying, though I am taking even to the point of death, and should have every right to fear what might be happening to me, I am not afraid, and the reason I am not afraid is because God is with me! "But Dude; your arm was just ripped off!" It is nothing but a flesh wound!!! He shall be with me to the very end!!! That is the greatest thing about a "shadow of death", shadows have no bite..."Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trump shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruptible, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption,  and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" (1 Corinthians 15:51-55)