Never Ever Alone. He will never leave you.

No matter how much the wicked thoughts attack you, saying God has left you, it is not true. He who cannot lie has promised never to leave you.

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. Psalm 23:4.

Have you ever felt alone, abandoned, forsaken, and forgotten? Do you think about your failures, sins, and mess-ups and figure it is okay that even God would abandon or leave you because you do not deserve His love, attention, and help right now and at this point in your life?

You almost accept your fate as karma or something you deserve. In public, you blame others and excuse yourself, play the victim, etc., but in your heart of hearts, you know you have ruined it all?

That is not what God wants you to think or feel. The Holy Spirit teaches the opposite in Psalm 23.

David had failed in every way possible. He had disobeyed God in counting the people. He had committed adultery and murder and failed as a father, allowing one son to rape his sister and another son to murder the raping brother. It is not very possible for any of us to do as badly or sinfully as David did, but David knew something that you must learn and apply.

David knew the Lord was with him. It wasn’t about what David deserved or earned. It was not about the sheep but the Shepherd. The sheep don’t deserve the Shepherd.; they don’t purchase or earn Him. They belong to the Shepherd.

David made the declaration you must learn and then declare from your heart. Remember, it is not about you, your character, or your conduct, but about the Shepherd and His character. This 23rd Psalm is not about David but about David’s Shepherd. So think with me.

“You are with me” right there in the middle of the Psalm. No fear, no want, plenty of food and drink, encouragement and refreshed soul, direction, and much more because you are my Shepherd and with me.

Could you consider that great truth? You can’t escape God, your Shepherd. David knew that and wrote.

Whither shall I go from thy spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: If I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, And thy right hand shall hold me. 11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; Even the night shall be light about me. 12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; But the night shineth as the day: The darkness and the light are both alike to thee. Psalm 139:7–12.

Do you get it? There is nowhere to go that you can escape His presence. God fills every speck of the universe, His universe. He created it, owns it, and possesses it. I AM stands outside of time and creation as the God of all. He was before and forever and will always be.

Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord. Jeremiah 23:24

Why would you ever want to be separated from Him? He always has your best interest at heart. I AM said the following to His people, Israel, but the promise applies to us as we are also His people.

Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. 2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: When thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; Neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. Isaiah 43:1–2.

Now, as a New Testament believer, you can know even more than David could ever imagine. God lives in us. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit. He will never, ever leave us or forsake us.

Comforter

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. John 14:16–18.

We have another Comforter of the same sort as Jesus Himself. God the Holy Spirit abides with us forever. He dwells in us, lives with us, and is in us. He comforts us.

We not only have a Shepherd outside of us we follow but a Shepherd that lives in us, comforts, guides, teaches and directs us.

Temple

Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit of God. God dwells in you. The Holy Spirit, God is in you. I Corinthians 6:19-20.

So, while the Shepherd is near the sheep, with the sheep, we have more. He has moved in and made us His abode, His temple.

Lives in you

Your Shepherd lives in you. God moved into you. You are crucified with Christ. It is no longer about you but the Shepherd who lives in you. Christ lives in you. Your life is not your own. Galatians 2:20.

So, while the Shepherd lived with the sheep, He now lives in and through us. We live by the very faith of the Son of God, not even our own faith.

Conclusion

I want you to leave this thought, understanding that the Shepherd, the Lord Jesus, God, the great I AM, is always with you. You can believe that and say it with all the confidence that David said it. Tell God you know He is with you. Speak to yourself. Tell the world. Tell the Devil. The Lord God of Heaven is with me.

Forget worrying about whether you are worthy or if you might mess it up. Trust fully in the Shepherd, not in the sheep.

for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13:5.

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The Shepherd's Presence

In shadows deep, where darkness reigns,
Where fear and doubt would bind in chains,
I walk this valley, fraught with strife,
Yet fear no evil in my life.

For Thou, my Shepherd, ever near,
Thy presence drives away all fear.
Thy rod and staff, they comfort me,
In Your embrace, I am set free.

Though I may fail and oft may fall,
Your love remains through it all.
Not by my merit do I stand,
But by the grace of Your strong hand.

In waters deep or raging fire,
You lift me from the miry mire.
No place exists beyond Your reach,
This truth Your Spirit does me teach.

Within my heart, You've made Your home,
No longer shall I feel alone.
Your Holy Spirit, ever near,
Whispers love into my ear.

So in this valley, I'll proclaim,
The power of Your holy name.
For You are with me, come what may,
My Shepherd, now and every day.