Devotional | Shari Murphy | Jun 2, 2020

TROUBLE

TROUBLE
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Psalm 23:4

DEVOTION

“There’s bound to come some trouble to your life ...”

We’ve heard.

We knew it.

Yet, we hoped and prayed it wouldn’t come. We secretly hoped that it wouldn’t be us that it came to.

And yet, it is. We can’t escape it. At least not as long as our feet walk this earth.

These words come from a song from my youth written by Rich Mullins. In my youth, I had no idea what it really meant. I hadn’t experienced pain. I hadn’t lost a job. I hadn’t cried due to infertility. I hadn’t wept with friends weeping from loss greater than I could ever imagine.

But now, I’ve experienced those things. And what have I learned? I’ve learned that the song was right. “There is bound to come some trouble to your life.”

The question in my mind is always: what do I do when—not if—trouble comes? How will I handle it? Can I handle it? Will it overtake me? Will it be more than I can bear?

Many times in my life, trouble has come. And many times, I thought it might be the end of me. And yet, this still, small voice whispered to me every time: “You don’t have to fear this. I’m here. I’m walking with you. I’m here to comfort you and bring you peace.”

Many times in my life, trouble has come. And many times, I thought it might be the end of me. And yet, this still, small voice whispered to me every time: “You don’t have to fear this. I’m here. I’m walking with you. I’m here to comfort you and bring you peace.”

Even though I walk

through the darkest valley,

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me

“Even though …”

Even though trouble comes my way, he is there with me. Even though I am walking through the darkest valley, he is there with me. He is there so I don’t have to fear. I have his protection and his comfort.

Do you know how that Rich Mullins’ song ends? It says:

“Reach out to Jesus, hold on tight.

He's been there before and He knows what it's like.

You'll find He's there.”

You’ll find he’s there.

Sometimes, we forget to look up from our struggles to even see him. But he’s there. Waiting. Waiting with open arms.


PRAYER

Father,

Even though I don’t always understand the trouble that comes my way, I trust in you. I give my life to you. I know you are with me when I am scared, hurting, sad, and happy. Please, just wrap your arms around me. Please remind me of your comfort, so I can experience the peace that only comes from knowing you.

Amen.

Shari Murphy

Pastor of Marriage and Family
smurphy@crossings.church

Looking for weekly encouragement? Sign up to receive each devotion via email.