Though I have been certain of my salvation for a long time, and believe with my whole heart that heaven is indescribably wonderful, I must admit that only in recent years can I honestly say I am not the least bit intimidated or fearful of death.

Before that time, I was one of those Christians that talked a good game, but hoped and prayed death was a loooooooooooooooooong way away. I wanted to see my kids grown, educated, married, and living happy, productive lives. It wasn’t so much being dead that bothered me, as getting dead.

When reading today’s verses, I think that’s exactly what David is talking about.

When David talks about walking through the shadow of death, he’s talking about the process of dying. He’s not afraid because he knows God is right there with armloads of comfort to get him through to the end of earthly life and the beginning of forever.

Because of sin, sometimes dying hurts. Cancer, violence, car crashes, kidney failure, heart attack, Alzheimer’s… none of those things are pleasant or easy. But when we walk through those shadows toward death, which is really our second life, we have the promise of God’s comfort to ease both the pain and the fears.

Praise God for His protection from beginning to end!