Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, for you are with me. (Psalm 23:4)
Far too many people, including many in the church, mistakenly believe that circumstances make the person . . . in other words, you become what you are because of the circumstances you encounter throughout life. James Allen neatly dismantled this misconception by saying, “Circumstance does not make the man . . . it reveals him.”
Today’s verse of encouragement tells us how independent we are of outward circumstances, thanks to one simple truth: Jesus is with us!
- Jesus was with Moses walking through the Red Sea
- Jesus was with Elijah on Mount Carmel when facing the prophets of Baal
- Jesus was with Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego in the fiery furnace
- Jesus was with Daniel in the lions’ den
- Jesus was with Stephen being stoned
- Jesus was with Paul in prison
AND JESUS IS WITH YOU . . . regardless of where this finds you today.
We can rise above our circumstances when the seas of life are stormy and it looks like our boat is about to capsize, because the One who walked on the waves is with us. We can be at peace when storm winds are blowing in our lives, because the One who said “Peace, be still” and calmed the storm is with us. It may feel as if darkness is enveloping you, but fear not! The Light of the World has promised to guide you and protect you and ultimately bring you safely to the other side.
If you find yourself lying on a bed of sickness today, fear not! Your sickbed becomes a throne of grace because Jesus is with you in your sickness. If you are facing financial difficulties and poverty is banging at your door, fear not! Jesus has promised to give you more in your lack than the rich will ever have in their abundance, for He is with you. Even death itself cannot disrupt the peace of the disciple, because Jesus our Savior became the death of death, and to cross the Jordan with Him is to enter the place marked GLORIOUS GAIN!
Regardless of the circumstances you are facing today, fear not! The power of the Holy Spirit that dwells within has given you the power to make you independent of all circumstances. Darkness becomes light. Loss becomes gain. And death becomes life, because Jesus is with us and He has promised us, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies” (John 11:25).
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 
Yes, and Amen! Jesus is always and forever with us, inside and outside of our circumstances. The Holy Spirit is always and forever working on our transformation into bearing much Fruit of His Spirit in every circumstance, and having that priority right view of the Sovereignty of God, and His Love, which is over all in simple to lavishly miraculous ways. There recently was a Facebook post from the “Rebel Squad” quoting Cheryl Strayed: “You will learn a lot about yourself if you stretch in the direction of goodness, of bigness, of kindness, of forgiveness, of emotional bravery. Be a warrior of love.” Being a Warrior of Love is rightly living in view of God’s Love overflowing from us and in His Strength, being bigger than our circumstances. By God’s Grace, may we be BIGGER! Grace and Peace 🙏