Day 37 – They Comfort Me
Perhaps you’ve been asking God to make your valley easier. David discovered something even better.
Day 37 – They Comfort Me
Psalm 23:4 — “…Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”
The rod and staff together reveal the Shepherd. One tells me He is strong enough to protect me. The other tells me He is gentle enough to care for me. Together, they produce comfort.
Our culture equates comfort with ease, pleasure or freedom from trials and troubles. Remember where David is standing. He is in the valley of the shadow of death. Whatever comfort means, it obviously does not mean the absence of hardship.
The Hebrew word nacham is fascinating. It means: to comfort, bring relief, strengthen or encourage.
It isn’t passive. It’s active. It’s not someone saying, “I hope you feel better.” It’s someone coming alongside another and giving them courage to continue.
David isn’t saying, “The rod and staff make me feel comfortable.” He’s saying,
“The Shepherd gives me courage to keep walking.”
He’s still in the valley. He’s still walking—still surrounded by danger.
In Isaiah 40. God says.
“Comfort, O comfort My people…”
That doesn’t mean “Your problems are over.” It’s: “Your God is coming.”
Comfort is found in His presence. God doesn’t just give comfort. He isComfort.
Imagine a child riding in the back seat of a car during a violent storm. The rain pounds against the windshield. Lightning flashes.
The child is still in the storm. What brings comfort? The calm confidence of the father behind the wheel.
Perhaps you’ve been asking God to make your valley easier. David discovered something even better. God doesn’t always remove the valley immediately. Instead, He gives us Himself.
His rod becomes our security.
His staff becomes our confidence.
His presence becomes our comfort.
He never promised that the valley would be easy. He promised that we would never walk it alone.
The deepest comfort in life is found in the presence, strength and faithful care of the Shepherd.
As you look back over your life, you may recognize moments when God’s protection was obvious. You may also remember seasons when His guidance didn’t make sense until much later. Both were expressions of the same Shepherd’s love. Today, thank Him not only for the dangers He has defended you from, but also for the gentle ways He has led you.
