SHADOWS

Our nation and most of the world reels in and out of fear as the media daily bombards us with news of Covid-19. We constantly walk “in the valley of the shadow of death’’ when we listen to these reports. In our efforts to get informed, we can be contaminated as each report’s implicitly laced with the fear of death. With our lives and the lives of our loved ones possibly being at stake, it is difficult to not allow fear’s entrance into our souls.

Is there a bigger shadow that can overcome “the shadow of death”? Yes! There is only one shadow that can swallow up the other, smaller shadows. It is “the shadow of the Almighty.” Walking in the wake of our Almighty and Powerful God can give us the confidence and strength to overcome the voices of fear, within and without. “The shadow of the Almighty” with its enormity overwhelms and negates the tiny “shadow of death”. It’s like having a Big Brother Who stands up to a harassing bully for us.

In the first epistle of John, he tells us “God is love.”* The antidote to fear is love. ‘”Perfect love casts out fear.”* Walking in the love of God can be a shield and an overcoming strength to release us from the paralyzing effects of walking in the fear of death.

Let us not feed our fears but feed our faith by walking close to God during this pandemic. If we don’t know God, it is time to ask the universal question, “Do you really exist? Show me if you do.” If we know God, it is time to grow closer and renew that precious relationship with Him with greater fervor than ever before.

Let us get informed with the direction of the Almighty, filtering news with Him. Let us guard our hearts with vigilance and keep ourselves in the love of God. If we fall back into the enticement of fear, let’s get up quickly, confess our sin, and move on, without condemnation.

Let us encourage each other to walk in love, under the all-protective Shadow of our God. Together we shall overcome in the battle against Covid-19 and the battle against fear. With God as our strength, we shall be victorious!

Psalm 23                                                                                            *1John 4:16

Psalm 91                                                                                            *1John 4:18