The Upper Room Daily Devotional of Nashville, Tennessee, United States "Grandpa’s Cane" for Wednesday, 20 April 2016 with Scripture: Psalm 23:1-6

The Upper Room Daily Devotional of Nashville, Tennessee, United States "Grandpa’s Cane" for Wednesday, 20 April 2016 with Scripture: Psalm 23:(0) A psalm of David:
(1) Adonai is my shepherd; I lack nothing.
2 He has me lie down in grassy pastures,
he leads me by quiet water,
3 he restores my inner person.
He guides me in right paths
for the sake of his own name.
4 Even if I pass through death-dark ravines,
I will fear no disaster; for you are with me;
your rod and staff reassure me.
5 You prepare a table for me,
even as my enemies watch;
you anoint my head with oil
from an overflowing cup.
6 Goodness and grace will pursue me
every day of my life;
and I will live in the house of Adonai
for years and years to come.
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The psalmist wrote, “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”[Psalm 23:4 (NIV)]
In my bedroom closet is a metal cane with a gray rubber handle. It belonged to my grandfather and then to my father. During my father’s battle with cancer, he walked with slow measured steps while gripping Grandpa’s cane. As the years pass, the day may come when Grandpa’s cane will also help me to walk.
My grandfather’s cane reminds me of scripture, the staff I lean on in my spiritual walk, especially during difficult times. When my father died, a staff of comfort to me was Psalm 68:5: “A father to the fatherless . . . is God.” When I was emotionally and physically exhausted from executing my father’s estate, “I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint” (Jer. 31:25) promised rest and renewal. And when a lump in my breast filled me with fear, I leaned on Matthew 9:22, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well” (NRSV), for hope and healing.
Psalm 23 is a staff I lean on for comfort. It promises that whatever we are coping with, the Good Shepherd is with us for emotional and spiritual support. As we traverse our valleys of grief, doubt, fear, and depression, we have a staff that reassures us that we are not walking alone: “Surely I am with you always” (Matt. 28:20).
The Author: Debra Pierce (Massachusetts, USA)
Thought for the Day: God’s presence steadies our steps through the darkest valleys.
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for your staff that provides emotional comfort and spiritual support. Amen.
Prayer focus: To lean on scripture---------------------