Daddy There's Monsters Under My Bed

Any father has sent their kids to bed, sat down after a long day, just for their child to say Dad, Daddy or any other name referring to their Father that there is something scary under their bed or in their closet. As a father you know there is nothing frightening under their bed. You know there are not any monsters in their closet but you play along because the sooner the child drifts into a peaceful slumber the sooner you can unwind from a long day.

I’ve come to the realization that shadows can play with our mind. Shadows have the ability to form in a way that make us think something is there that is truly not. I remember being a young kid and seeing what I thought was an arm outside of my window, and when I was afraid to the point I did not want to inspect. Every time the shadow moved it looked like an arm trying to raise my window. I could not sleep, I was frightened, I mustered up enough energy to tell my mom in a frantic she looks at the window and says “Boy that’s a tree branch” go to bed. Her certainty brought me peace in the midst of unidentified shadows, my inability to identify the shadow brought her frustration but her easing of my mind allowed the house to be a place of slumber rather than a place of fear.

This is what God has done for David, the Lord is my shepherd, my protector even in the valley of the shadow of death. Therefore, I fear no evil because God is with me. As we identify with David, we have to understand this idea of being in the valleys of life. We have to understand what it means to submit to the shepherding of God, we also have understand that blessings do not always come at the mountain top, sometimes blessings come in the valley. That ought to make us rejoice to know that whether we are on the top of the mountains of life or knee deep in the valley of trials blessings can still come.

The New King James Version Psalm 23

4 Yea, 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.

“though I walk through the valley”

I have intentions about my time spent in the valley.

I plan on getting out with God’s help, but I have to walk. This is something I plan on getting through.

“Walk through” I am moving in a linear motion toward my valley exit. My goal is to exit the valley, my goal is not to wander in the valley or the valley become my new residence.

Valley - or low point between two high points.

The High Point I used to be at

The High Point I’m head toward

The difficult thing about valleys are the fact that we know that it’s like to be at the mountain top. We understand the work it took, we understand the adversity and the willingness not to give up.

What is the issue?

Valleys bring about a conflicting moment in life.

It’s work getting back to where we were.

It’s work getting to where we want to go.

Both sides take work, there is nothing downhill about getting out of the valley. The blessing is, I can walk through this valley. Sometimes I might have to crawl, roll, hop but as long as I’m getting to the valley exit.

Shadow of Death

Shadow of death - Deep shadow, distress of extreme danger or place of the dead. I’m supposed to die here. Have you ever been in a situation in which you’ve looked back and said, I could’ve died right here, but the Good Shepherd saved me from death.

This is the place I was supposed to die but I didn’t, this is the place I was supposed to be defeated but I wasn’t.

I should not be here, but I am

Saul could have killed, David escaped death a number of times.

Goliath should have killed me.

I’ve pressed through these valleys and I did not let darkness prompt me to give up.

Understand that God even blesses us in a valley. To understand the blessing, you have to understand what a valley is.

Valley - a long depression in the surface of the land; often containing a river.

It’s safe to say that the still waters being the blessing they are, even though the still water is a blessing it might be still waters in a valley. Nonetheless, regardless of the circumstance or regardless of the valley God can provide comfort in the worst situations.

The New King James Version Chapter 43

2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.

When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,

Nor shall the flame scorch you.

In order to be excited at the mountain top you have to be content in the valley. Embrace the valley just do not get too comfortable there.

Job had a fair share of valley experiences but once he came through the valley the other side was a greater blessing than the trauma of the valley.

The New King James Version Chapter 3

5 May darkness and the shadow of death claim it;

May a cloud settle on it;

May the blackness of the day terrify it.

Job in the previous four verses curses the day he was born. The valley of death that he was in prompted him to want to die in this condition. “May darkness and the shadow of death claim it”.

“God will never lead you where He cannot care for you”.

In David encourages us to understand that the shadow of death is nothing to fear. For us this is a reminder that Jesus has taken the sting out of death.

The New King James Version Chapter 15

55 “O Death, where is your sting?

O Hades, where is your victory?”

56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

How Do I Remain Faithful in the Valley

How do I remain faithful, how do I remain unafraid.

I have to remember that God is always with me.

Even when I make mistakes, I’m not destroyed, but he corrects me and comforts me. “your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

Even in the dark I’m still guided by God.

He leads me in a gentle manner, I find comfort in being uncomfortable because I know God is there and this trouble will last forever.

In effort for the protective power of God to prove itself, I have to go through some dark times to understand it fully.

It’s one thing to witness the trials people go through, but it’s completely different to experience them yourself.

There are times in which we find peace in the valley does not mean desolate. Sometimes rivers flow through valleys, sometimes the grass is green in the valley. This is the beauty of God’s protection that he can even provide for us in our darkest moments.

Moses had valley moments:

The New King James Version Chapter 31

6 Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”

Moses went through valleys, but God still provided.

In wilderness they recieved manna

In the wilderness they recieved quail

In the wilderness they water

God blessed them in the valley.

The Two Hands of the Shepherd

The shepherd carries two items one for protection and one for protection and one for correction —

In one hand I see God with a rod of protection

In another hand I see God with a staff of correction. He walks with it, he keeps us in line with it. I'm comforted because I know with correction comes protection.

Rod - protects the sheep from the enemy.

Staff - Has many uses

Herding

Punishing the sheep

Support to navigate difficult terrains to hold the shepherd up.

The same thing a good father uses to protect can be used to sustain, comfort and uphold.

There is a spiritual and physical example with each duty of the father similar to the staff.

The belt is used to hold up pants to look presentable in the workplace, it can also be used as a method of correction.

The New King James Version Chapter 13

24 He who spares his rod hates his son,

But he who loves him disciplines him promptly.

A job can dignify a man the ability to ascribe to hard work, it also provides for basic needs like shelter, food and utilities. That job also shows a son or daughter what it means to take care of your family.

The New King James Version Chapter 5

8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Just like he has a physical job, he also should have a spiritual job. The spiritual Job is likened to the Shepherd described in this text. His pasture is his home, he tends to the sheep in his home, he leads them beside the still waters.

I do not fear evil when Daddy is around -

Daddy there are monsters in my bed, daddy there's monsters in my closet. Daddy comes to the room to remove the monsters and tuck us in so we can sleep peacefully! God gives us a peaceful rest!

I want to rest but I can’t the monsters are too loud

I need to rest but I can’t the monsters are making sounds

My Daddy must save me,

My Daddy must tuck me in

He’s scared the monsters away the peaceful sleep can begin.

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