You know how you read something a million times and then there's that one time something hits you? That's what happened one day when I came across this verse in Psalms 23...

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

I don't know about you, but a rod and a staff do not speak comfort for me.  A warm, fuzzy blanket;  a big hug; a warm cup of tea; cuddling with the dog...all these are comforting to me, not a stick.  So, I had to see why David said that.  

ROD: Rod is a masculine noun and means: rod; staff; club (= correction); smiting  mustering sheep; scepter (= mark of authority, to branch off, a stick for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling and walking); tribe.

STAFF: Staff is a feminine noun and means: support of every kind; sustenance; absolute; shepherd, walking stick.

Shadow of Death: Darkness; death-like shadow; deep shadow; black doom; of distress; extreme danger; characterizing world of the dead. 

Comfort: be sorry; console; moved to pity; have compassion for others; repent of ones's own doing; comfort oneself; be comforted; ease oneself by taking vengeance. 

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say the last one (vengeance) is not recommended..see Romans 12:19.

Ok, class dismissed...let's get to the heart of all this.  We all go through times of despair or darkness.  We all can remember a time when we were engulfed with the weight of it, pulling us down.  You can hear the sucking noise of your shoe coming out of the mud as you struggle to move forward.   How do we climb out of it?  How do we combat it?  What tools do we have?    

One of the first things that hit me was God uses a masculine and feminine noun.  Mom and Dad.  We need both. Through these two things God provides correction, guidance and authority, as well as, support, sustenance = aid, nourishment, provision and a shepherd = protector, guard, leader.  

At one point or another in my life God has been or provided all of those in my life.  Whether or not your mom or dad was safe or not; there for you or not; an example of those things or not...God is and will always be there.  He never left you and isn't going anywhere.  One of His greatest joys is pursuing you.  He loves you!

Sometimes our comfort comes from the outside and sometimes it comes when we ask for forgiveness and deal with ourselves.  Or when we walk in the authority of our Shepherd and stand against the attack.  

Do you see "tribe" at the end of the definition of rod (above)?  Not only is God there for us, but He intended us to have people in our lives.  We are to share the weight of what we are struggling with others.  We are not to walk alone BUT we are meant to keep walking!!  

A rod and a staff are both used to help with walking.  They are there for us to lean on when we get tired, steady us on uneven terrain and can be used to protect ourselves.

I started writing this awhile ago and stopped.  I needed to let it sit.  At that time I was in a funk, a little despair...hard things were happening.  We kept walking, God and me.  He walked at my pace, no judgment.  I sensed His love and comfort and His gentle prodding.  Responsibilities got me out of bed and made me walk...whatever works, right?  Don't stop!  Keep walking!  You are not alone!

You have all my love! 

xoxo ~ Jodi