THE SHADOW

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

My morning started out rough. I woke up with dread in my heart and mind. I feared the worst. I once learned the acrostic for fear - false evidence appearing real. Nothing felt false in my gut. Real was what I was experiencing in the moment. I'd headed myself through the valley of the shadow of death. The death certificate hadn't been written. No obituary post in the paper. Yet I counted my desire as a loss. There was a lump the size of a grapefruit in my throat. I could barely speak without erupting into tears. So I fell to my knees in prayer. As I lifted up my "shadow of death" to God, He reminded me it was only a shadow - not the actual death.
An object blocking a source of light will cast a shadow. My object of fear was blocking the light of truth, creating a shadow of lies and doubts. My eyes were on the shadow, not the truth. I recently watched a video of a toddler running from its shadow, screaming in hysterics. The poor child thought the dark figure was chasing her to do harm. I was behaving as silly as the toddler, running through this valley of death's shadow, believing it to be real. The hysteria in my mind, if not surrendered for truth, would render me lifeless.
I had a choice to make - thoughts of life verses thoughts of death. I chose life.  I don't have to run through the valley. I can walk. Shadows can't kill you. They aren't the actual death. My trust is in the source of Light. I am comforted.