Thank God that the Shepherd’s leadership does not stop when we run into trouble. He may not always seem to be present and you may wonder why, but you will always find that His grace is sufficient for our provision and for all our circumstances. Paul mentions this and says, in Philippians 4:11: “for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”

There is no situation you can be put into where His leadership and grace are not enough – as long as you are truly following Him. Personally speaking, I have seen this to be true over most of my life as a believer. He has always been there.

This verse also has the promise that He will even be with us when we are about to pass into the next world. Interestingly, this verse speaks of the “valley of the shadow of death.” Did you notice the word “shadow?” A shadow has no real substance. It is nothing but an absence of direct light. A shadow cannot hurt you, but it can make you afraid. Because of His presence we can say: “I will fear no evil.” His “rod and staff” can take care of the enemies.

The believer has the blessing of knowing what is on the other side of death. We have a Shepherd that will take us to the other side: death has no sting for the believer! Because of this, the Christian should not fear death. The believer will not be left in the valley: “to be absent from the body” is to be “present with the Lord” (II Cor. 5:8).

He or she also has no reason to fear evil because our God is in control. Always the condition for His leadership is that we follow Him closely and trust Him.