Walking in the Shadow of Death

Creative Commons. Credit to Blacklord.

You.

You know who you are. You know where you are, you know what you're living, and you know what kind of hell you're going through.

I'm here to remind you that there's hope.

Everyone has been to a funeral at some point in their life. I'm a Christian, and so the ones I've been to have always been in a church. Generally, they'll read Psalm 23 from the Bible: "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want."

Somewhere in there it starts talking in a familiar verse about walking "through the valley of the shadow of death." Is that where you are right now? It's a scary place to be, with lots of voices telling you sorrowful things. The secrets of your past can rave at you from there, the shame and the anguish and the unspeakable horrors that haunt your nights. Who did something to you that you cannot confess? Who hurt you, who touched you, who scarred your heart? Who violated the core of the fabric of your being and left you in tatters?

You are not a shred of cloth to be thrown away with impunity. You are a person of great value, and no one might have told you that those who walk through the valley have a great backup team.

"...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."

You can fear no evil. Why?

Because "Thou art with me."

There is someone who irrevocably, unrepentantly, eternally, and graciously will always have your back. Probably several someones, if you take a look around. For me, my "Thou" is God, and He's my strong tower - but we're not talking about me, we're talking about you. Maybe you don't believe in my God, and that's ok. You have a "Thou" somewhere too, who is waiting to help you.

Learn this: when you go through your valley, when the shadows are long, it's ok to cry out for help.

It's ok to cry out, because that is strength, not weakness; fortitude, and not surrender. There is someone with you, someone who will hold your hand. Maybe it's a brother, father, mother, sister, friend, relative, auntie, who knows - maybe even a stranger on the street.

We are here. And we will comfort you.

We, the collective we, the people who walk by you and see your beauty, your sass, your smarts, your splendor, your intelligence and zing. We will stand by you, support you, accept you, council you, put you in your proper place where you can represent you. There is no one else who can be you, or offer to the world what you can. You are a treasure, and above all things to be cherished. Who knows what tomorrow will bring? Today has sorrows enough of itself - but you never will walk through the darkness on your own. And even if it looks like all your friends are turned away, remember this: that all of the world is just waiting for you to take up the banner, the standard of you, waiting for you to plant your feet and say, I will move on. 

We need you. We cannot replace you, and would never want to.

Learn this: You can fear no evil because all of us believe in you. Believe, if not in a higher power, that there is a great reason for which you walk this glorious earth, that you have a great purpose, and a great future. And remember that the Psalm that has marked death for centuries can be your war cry: I will fear no evil, for I have a backup team.

Psalm 23

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

4 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.

5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: 

Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: 

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever."