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YOUR ROD AND STAFF COMFORT ME

What do you say to people when they go through a devastating loss? There are five things you can remember when you are going through really hard times:-

1. You are no alone - "He guides me in paths of righteousness"

Life has many paths and you can choose many directions in your life. There are paths which are obviously wrong. There are paths which seem right but they are wrong. God is wanting to guide us to the right paths. See Psalm 37:23. Good orders the paths of a righteous person. See Psalm 16:11. God guides our paths. How do you get onto this right path?

God's will is found in God's Word. See Psalm 119:105. God's Word lights our path.
God's will through godly counsel. See Proverbs 13:10 & Proverbs 12:15. We don't want to counsel from others as we think we can do it alone.
God's will through the Spirit. See Philippians 2:13, Romans 8. Watch out if you only use this option to get onto the right path. You need God's Word and godly counsel to keep a balance and keep on the right path.

God guides us in the paths that produce righteousness. Is this the paths that are are easy or the difficult ones? Often it is the difficult. There is no growth without rain, no roses with pruning, no diamonds without pressure, no gold without fire. See Job 23:10-11. The path of righteousness is not always easy. We need stronger shoes and not easier paths. The result is worth the effort. God wants to produce righteousness.

2. God's reputation - "For His Names Sake"

God's reputation is at stake. Hard times comes to believers and unbelievers. Is there is a contrast between the two? Do you choose love instead of hate, hope instead of despair, faith instead of doubt, forgiveness instead of bitterness, victory instead of defeat? We are to display the superiority of the life that is submitted to God. We are to be in contrast to our unbelieving neighbour.

There is victory that is platitude only. You say the words but they are lame. True victory and strength in God needs to be real. It is more than just hanging on. We are to be bold and positive. We need to raise the flag for the Lord and minister to others.

God wants us to have absolute victory. Are you experiencing platitudes or having confidence and victory. Can you raise the flag and keep God's reputation intact.

3. You will get through this - "Shadow of death"

Sometimes life takes you to a very deep valley. It is all about surviving. You will get through it. There is very little light that shines in the deepest valleys. Death is the hardest thing to suffer. Notice the "even though". It is not impossible to come through the hardest things in life. The faith of a believer can shine the brightest at these times. The promise is that you will go "through" this valley. See Isaiah 43:1-2.

4. You have nothing to fear - "Fear no evil"

What is it that people are afraid of as they go through the valley? They are thinking of the outcome - the future. You don't have to fear the future. The future can be faced with faith. Why? God is in our corner. He is with me at all times. It does not require positive mental attitude. We have nothing to fear.

5. You are safe and secure - "Rod and staff comfort me "

The rod and staff were two things that a shepherd would carry for protection and correction.

The rod - This can be translated "club". The shepherd used it to protect his sheep. God allows things in our lives.
The staff - This was used to correct the sheep. To get them back on the right path. God corrects those he loves.

You need to direct your children to the right path until they are old enough to understand that you were right. We are to trust and not be afraid.