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The Valley


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)
This verse has come to mind a number of times as I have considered what's going on in this country. Some people are saying that if their candidate isn't elected, we're going to go through a deep, dark valley from which there may be no escape; that America is dead. Do you fear no evil? Do you rest in God's care when President Obama talks of bringing in Muslim refugees that might include terrorists? Do you not fear the possibility of Mr. Trump, or Mrs. Clinton being elected? Is our hope and comfort in God's rod and staff? Or is it in our "taking the country back" and "making it great"?
         I mourn for my country, but I keep coming back to when the Israelites rebelled and planned to find someone to take them back to Egypt rather than invading the Promised Land. God told them His punishment for their disobedience. Then they decided to invade even though Moses warned them not to. They ended up wandering in the wilderness for 40 years, but that wasn't the end of Israel.  I don't know whether God has proclaimed that we're to wander in the wilderness or not, but I suspect that He may have. I'm not sure how long that exile will last but it will do more harm than good to resist His will. Instead, we must follow where He leads and be comforted in knowing that He will not only protect us and provide for us, but that He will cause it all to work out for our good. We have some time to prepare. Let's not waste it with whining or recriminations. Stop fearing the evil that surrounds us, because God is with us.

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