Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil;
for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff,
they comfort me.
St. Paul writes of our present age as evil. And that is how we experience it. At times, it seems that this evil age has convulsions and things get worse. We experience greater breakdown of the social fabric, breakdown in leadership, greater divisions. And we feel overwhelmed.
We are often then tempted to give way too much attention to what overwhelms us, way too much attention to the power of evil. With that excessive attention, anxiety and fear deepen, and we are tempted to lose heart, to lose our trust in God and to lose our way.
Of course, it is appropriate to give attention to what is happening in our society and the world, but not in such a manner that we become intimidated and fearful and despairing, as if God were not present and lovingly active in our lives. As if the Good Shepherd were not present to lead us.
Frederick Douglass, speaking at a gathering of abolitionists, bemoaned the setbacks in the movement and the intransigence of the institution of slavery. There were sounds of despair in his voice as he went on and on in this vein. At one point, Sojourner Truth simply stood up and called out, “Frederick, did God die?”
Sometimes we need someone like Sojourner Truth to speak similar words to us when we start to despair. Or, we need to be that person for someone else. All of us, at times, need reminding that God is present, that God is watching over us and making a way for us. Even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death we will fear no evil for our Good Shepherd is present to guide us.
Whatever the times we live in, whatever we face in our world, God has a way for us to walk in, and God sends the Holy Spirit to lead us in ever changing situations. Therefore, Paul can say, “We are more than conquerors through God who strengthens us.”
What Paul said about his approach to the time in which he lived, helps us in the time in which we live. Paul said, “One thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
That is a word for us in our present evil age. We are to keep it simple. Do one thing: “Press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” We are to keep our eyes on the prize. Keep our focus on God’s call. Seek God’s will in order to do it.
Every one of us has a calling (or callings) from God. Every one of us has work to do that God gives us to do. Every one of us has gifts and abilities, spiritual gifts for living out our callings, for serving others and being light in the world.
We do not all have the same gifts and callings, but each of us has a calling and a work that fits our gifts. When we are living out that calling in our homes and neighborhoods and workplaces and among people we meet and people we are sent to and in public witness, we are affecting our world. We are being the light Jesus said we were.
While we all have our individual callings, there are some things we know are God’s will for all of us:
It is God’s will that we meet together, that we be in community. That we pray and encourage one another. That we seek God’s direction not only as individuals but as communities of faith. That we exercise our gifts and God-given abilities in ministry within our faith communities which prepares us for our work in the world. That we do so empowered by the Spirit. And that we cast our anxieties on the Lord, knowing that God is our Good Shepherd whose rod and staff comfort and guide us.