Gracie Girl Blog

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 

Psalm 23:4

I grew up reading and memorizing this verse, and I always assumed the “valley of the shadow of death” meant really bad times. I think that is what it means, but I’m beginning to realize that even when I’m not in the actual valley, even when I’m at a high point, on top of a metaphorical mountain, I can still see the shadow. I think it’s just part of living in this broken world, whether the shadow is close by, or you’re looking down on it, or it’s right above you, it’s there.

As our country seems to get farther and farther from the Biblical truths it was built on, the shadow seems to be growing. There have been so many shootings. Racism. Fear. Pain. Anger. Everyone feels it, no matter how great your life is, you can’t help but wince when you hear about yet another catastrophe. Everyone wants it to stop, but we are so lost and don’t know how.

Mark 12:31 says “Love your neighbor as yourself.” This is not advice, but a commandment. It’s a phrase I think a lot of people would agree with right now, that might fix our problems. We’ve all heard it, but what does it really mean?

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” (1 Corinthians 13:4)

Woah. That’s a lot of work. What doesn’t help is we live in a society that says it’s okay to be impatient. It’s fine if you envy someone, boast and be proud (you probably earned it anyway). It’s fine to care only about yourself, it’s okay to get angry at anything that annoys you. Keep a record of wrongs (you might need it later). Delight in evil, the truth isn’t always right. The world says love your neighbor to your convenience.

It’s no wonder we seem to be in such a helpless state, we have such a twisted view of love.

Here’s the thing though. The love 1 Corinthians talks about is radical. It’s hard and messy. You won’t always see the benefits. It’s a Jesus-type love that scares people. I honestly think it’s a hard love to understand if you haven’t first known the love of God.  The love of God is THAT radical and constant. He keeps no record of my wrongs. He is kind and gentle and at the same time more powerful than anything or anyone here on earth. His love, His entire being, is perfect.

Yet in all His perfection, He loves me. Broken me who has messed up more times than I can count and who doesn’t love the way I should. And He loves you. And God loves every single individual person in this country, and in every other country. He isn’t afraid of our brokenness. He isn’t afraid of this mess we seem to live in sometimes. He isn’t afraid of the shadow because he is the LIGHT and where the light is a shadow cannot be.

To shine on those living in darkness,

and in the shadow of death,

to guide our feet into the path of peace.

Luke 1:79

I can’t change the hearts of the people who feel the need to kill others. I can’t make racism disappear and I can’t stop someone from acting on anger. But because I know Jesus, I know that there is light beyond the shadow. I know that the day Jesus rose from the dead, He defied the shadow and claimed ultimate authority over our earth. His light will not ever end.

Only God’s perfect love can change people. I can just do my best to show his love to the people right in front of me. The people He has put in my life to love.

I remember a serious conversation we had at church in my 6th grade small group after the Sandy Hook shooting. Our small group leader (who was and is an amazing godly man) reminded us that it is our responsibility to love others. How we could start now, by befriending the bullied kids, sitting next to someone who sits alone at lunch. Because maybe if we loved the people our age now, they wouldn’t continue to feel unlovable. The people who desire to kill others are clearly missing something in their lives. Maybe if they had had just one friend, the course of their life would be different, ultimately changing others lives too.

So I encourage you today, right now, to love a little more. Love when it’s not easy. Love those you don’t really want to love. America won’t change if all we have is resentment towards each other. Love despite of the shadow.

Love always perseveres.