Whom Then Shall I Fear

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I'm caught in the middle of the storms of this life
I won't turn back, I know you are near"

 

@Matt Redman lyrics

Anyone that has attended church even briefly probably knows "The Lord is my shepherd" verses. "...though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil."

I'm no biblical scholar, nor spiritual guru....so this blog is about my own personal soul musings. Soul musings are at the core of the soul. Thoughts, ideas, ponderings, reflections that touch the very essence of the soul and make connections. My musings aren't for the sake of theological arguments and I won't even argue they are necessarily "right". They are simply my thoughts on this day and at this time about some snippet that has caught my attention.

This song has been in my head now for a couple of weeks. It's something the praise band played at church a few weeks back but it's also a song they have performed before so WHY is it stuck in my head right now? In fact the part stuck in my head is a very small snippet: "whom then shall I fear." Crazy right?

"I will fear no evil

For my God is with me

And if my God is with me

Whom then shall I fear

WHOM THEN SHALL I FEAR" 

 

I believe in "messages from the universe". That may seem like a term that is too "non religious"  Call them whisperings from God if you like that term better. I couldn't argue with the idea because I have no idea where they come from. I, often, however find that they lead me to a "truth" or to a "direction" that is exactly what I need. So I was thinking...."gee, I hope I'm not walking through the shadow of the valley of death." That seemed a little spooky and I really hope to live a good many years more! I discarded that idea rather quickly because that little snippet seemed much more "helpful" in nature..."whom then shall I fear."   Seems I've been worrying a lot lately, mostly about things I have no control over..."whom then shall I fear." It took quite a while...a few weeks to get my attention but isn't it saying..."why are you so fearful, there is no need to be, stop and trust" 

OH no You never let go through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go in every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go, Lord, You never let go of me"

 

(Matt Redman lyrics)

 

Then in the process of reflecting I realized there's a personal message and a larger message also contained within. If you look at the images I selected for this post you realize that the "valley of the shadow of death" doesn't have to be "the end" or death.

 

 The first image is more inline with the "valley of death" as associated with death itself. The second a "shanty town in Ghana" could certainly fit the term equally well. There is fear there, and hope, and a courageous determination to survive. The third, right here in the USA in Cleveland. "Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil." 

 

Now I'm not suggesting we spend the night under that bridge in Cleveland and fear no evil. That would be just plain dumb!  Yet I think there is a message there...we are surrounded quite honestly with what I consider a decaying societal structure yet we should fear no evil. Whom then shall I fear?  Fear only yourself and your lack of faith. At least to me that is the only fear that might seep in and really impact the future, But take strength....He never lets go...even when faith is low....

 

"Oh no, you never let go, Lord, You never let go of me."

Hugs to all of you and may you always remember that God never lets go.

 

Please feel free to leave respectful comments. I am open to all religions and points of view. I do not condemn you for yours so I  ask the same respect for mine. This blog like all my others is set to "moderate comments" so your comment will not appear immediately Thanks!