It’s one of the most popular passages in the Bible. If you were raised in church, you know it. It’s Psalm 23 (MSG) –
” God, my shepherd!
I don’t need a thing.
You have bedded me down in lush meadows,
you find me quiet pools to drink from.
True to your word,
you let me catch my breath
and send me in the right direction.
Even when the way goes through
Death Valley,
I’m not afraid
when you walk at my side.
Your trusty shepherd’s crook
makes me feel secure.
You serve me a six-course dinner
right in front of my enemies.
You revive my drooping head;
my cup brims with blessing.
Your beauty and love chase after me
every day of my life.
I’m back home in the house of God
for the rest of my life.”
This morning, I woke up earlier then I usually do. So I got up, made breakfast, grabbed a cup of tea (I’m fighting a cold… again.) and dove into my devotional for the day. Today was Psalm 23, a Psalm I know well because I had to memorize it at a very young age. However, the devotional I’m currently doing challenged me to look at this well known passage from another angle, and I learned something I had never really thought of before and wanted to share.
It’s natural for us to have fears. Some are simple like a fear of spiders, sharks, getting lost, etc. but others are much deeper that we don’t really talk about with other people. This really spoke to me as I encounter a fear yesterday.
Aaron & I are submitting our applications to start school this semester, and while filling out my application, there were a few questions that I had to answer that suddenly made me feel very overwhelmed. Without any warning, I was reminded of my last experience with school – stressing out because I couldn’t understand things, barely passing some classes, and, consequently, feeling stupid.
This study reminded me that I need to take those fears captive and submit them to God.
HE is my protector!
HE is always with me!
HE will give me exactly what I need to accomplish school successfully!
Plus, this “version of school” is so much different then what I was comparing it to from 4+ years ago. There is no math or science, not every question asked has a “right answer,” and no one is judging me thinking I’m going to fail.
I know being fearful of school may not be what you’re secretly afraid of, and capturing that negative thought can sound easier then it is, but I encourage you to challenge yourself next time a fear comes into your mind. Take control – submit it to God – and remember that HE will never leave you!