Thy Rod and Thy Staff...

[TheWidowsOffering]

"....... thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." Psalm 23:4


I've been talking to the Lord lately about His rod and His staff that if He could please withdraw it from me? (LOL). As we can see in the verse, God's rod and staff give us comfort. But if we look in another part of the Scripture (Proverbs 13:24, Hebrews 12:5) rod there is used for disciple/rebuke. In that case, the rod and staff is no longer comfortable at all. (Hebrews 12:4-11). We become uneasy. LOL

As I am meditating and praying in my heart while talking to God in my mind, the Lord gently answered "My child, if I remove my rod and staff, you will GO ASTRAY!" (LOLLLLLLL)... the Lord knows. He is always familiar with thoughts and our ways (Psalm 139:1-4) .

I tried to search the net on the significance of the verse and found one from In Touch Ministries by Dr. Charles Stanley. Just want to share it here hoping and praying everyone will be encouraged if not enlightened to what others here are experiencing today.

Blessings everyone!!!!


TWO

The Valley Experiences in Our Life
By Dr. Charles Stanley

Memory Verse: Psalm 23:1-6

I. Introduction: All of us go through valley experiences in life. Adversity is an inevitable part of life. When difficulties come, we tend to wonder why God has allowed us to suffer. We may even feel abandoned by Him. But Scripture tells us otherwise.
Psalm 23 describes the Lord caring for us as tenderly and faithfully as a shepherd cares for his flock. This beloved passage of God’s Word is a reminder that He is always present––loving, protecting, and guiding us. He has a purpose for every adversity He allows. The biblical principle is We learn more in our valley experiences than on our mountain tops.

II. Valley experiences are inevitable.
A. We find ourselves in difficult circumstances for a variety of reasons: spiritual warfare, the hand of God, the actions of others, and our own rebellion.
B. Every valley is a passageway rather than a destination. Eventually, the difficulty will pass. David wrote, “I walk through the valley” (Ps. 23:4, emphasis added).

III. God controls the depth and the length of a valley experience.
A. A season of suffering can seem longer if we are in a tremendous amount of pain.
B. Suffering throws us off balance. Losing anything-- a position, a friendship or a marriage, or something else precious--can cause a person to wonder, Why did God do this to me?
C. The deeper the valley, the greater the work God will be able to do through it.
D. The valley experience might be shorter and less painful if it takes only a little suffering to bring about deeper surrender to God in your life. Resisting Him will typically lengthen a period of suffering.
E. God is more interested in our character than our comfort.
F. With the Lord, we always have hope. You and I have the Good Shepherd living within, guiding, comforting, strengthening, and protecting us (Ps. 23:1).

IV. Sometimes people respond negatively in a valley.
We will handle adversity poorly if . . .
A. We don’t have a solid belief system. If you and I don’t understand God’s character, we will panic in the face of difficulty.
B. We don’t understand the ways of the Lord. Scripture contains many examples of saints who suffered despite their faithfulness to God.
C. Our faith is based on emotion rather than the Word of God.
D. We don’t know His promises. The reassurances found in Scripture can help carry us through trials.

V. We learn more in a valley experience than we do on the mountain top.
A. In hard times, we are far more likely to discover how to rely on God than when things are going well.
B. No matter what happens, the Father will provide for us: “He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters” (Ps. 23:2).
C. God’s Word is like a rod and staff (see Ps. 23:4). Especially in seasons of difficulty, its truth can protect us from making unwise choices and comfort us in our suffering.
D. In the valley, we learn more about the nature of God: His presence in our pain, His love in our loss, and His patience despite our complaints. Through hardship, He may strip us of pride, renew our passion for Him, refine our character, and/or purify our motives.

VI. There is a correct way to respond to valleys.
A. Surrender your life to God.
B. Believe that the Lord will use this experience for good (Rom. 8:28).
C. Rest in His wisdom, love, and power.
D. Thank Him for bringing you through the valley. You will learn invaluable lessons in life’s darkest seasons.

VII. Conclusion: No one can completely escape all suffering in life. But as believers, we can face difficulties with confidence. If you are in a valley right now, I pray that you will remember God as your faithful Shepherd. He will guide you through heartache and show you how to overcome in His strength. Look to Him for peace and hope despite your circumstances. If you are willing to walk with Him through the valley, you will experience God’s highest blessing on the next mountaintop.

Amen and amen!!! PTL.

 

[Fragrant Grace]

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me
John 10:27

Thank you for sharing that dear sister.
A little more for you below....

Bless you

O that Christians, the very best of them, were not so slack in following!
Some stop to trifle with the perishable things of earth.
Some stop to pick up the gaudy, scentless flowers by the wayside.
Some stop to sleep, forgetting this is not our rest, it is cursed ground.
Some stop to pick holes and find fault with their fellow-travelers.
Few of Christ’s sheep do hold on their way as steadily as they might. But still, compared with the world, they are following Christ Jesus.
Oh that they would only remember, those who follow Him most fully, shall follow Him most comfortably!
They are following Christ Jesus, and they know where they are going; and even in the dark river, in the valley of the shadow of death, they feel a confidence that their Shepherd will be with them, and His rod and His staff will comfort them.
They would all tell you they are poor wandering sheep, less than the least of all God’s mercies, ashamed of the little fruit they bear—but still, weak as they are, they are determined to follow on to the end, and to say, “None but Christ, in life and in death, in time and in eternity.”


JC Ryle....The Character of the True Christian (19th century)

 

[blackbear4110]

I, too, realized that the words "rod and staff" used in Psalm 23 were the same words used or insinuated when speaking of discipline.

In all actuality, being disciplined IS comforting...though it may not be comfortable at the moment, it is comforting, especially in the long run...because a Father Who loves His children will correct, discipline, and chasten then when they begin to go astray. It's comforting to know that God loves us enough to guide us back to the path.

 

[TheWidowsOffering]

Thanks Sis. Blackbear and beloved Sis. Julia for the kind input. I love the quote you gave from Ryle. I copied and saved it in documents for future use. God bless you both.

 

[amadeus2]

As with the rod and staff, consider also the fire!

"For our God is a consuming fire." Heb 12:29

. In Daniel 3 the strongest of the King's soldiers were killed by the fire, but the three Hebrews were not harmed. God has a hedge around those that are His, but not so for others.