"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."
Psalms 23:4
This is a pretty well-known verse with some excellent symbolism. What I was thinking about today while reading it was the rod and the staff mentioned. In the hands of a shepherd, the traditional crook can be both rod and staff... a rod to fight with, or a staff for support. So those are some good things ... the Lord will defend and support us... but I think there is more. Often in the scriptures a rod is symbolic of authority, of Christ himself, and then there is the rod of iron in Lehi's dream which is symbolic of his word... perhaps part of what comforts us in our dark times is the power of God and his guidance that is offered through reading the scriptures and through answers to prayer.
Today, let's remember even in the dark times that we don't have to fear evil when God is in our lives. We can have him there through the Spirit, through study and prayer, and we too often forget those basic things because they seem too simple and we're addicted to drama. :) But reading our scriptures and praying to God are simple and sure ways that we can have more peace and more happiness in our lives... let's allow the Lord to comfort us in the darkness by reaching out to him and inviting his spirit into our lives by doing those simple things, even just a little, and then lets observe the results and watch how those simple things can make a difference.
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