Whom then shall I fear....

Matt Redman
You Never Let Go

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I’m caught in the middle of the storms of this life
I won’t turn back
I know You are near

I spent two years training for my Ironman. I can still remembered back in 2005 when I had a bike accident and lost two front teeth. I was wondering where my future will be like. I wasn't sure if they would be fix. I look at the Ironman and with nothing but questions. How do I train? Can I go back on the bike again? Where do I start? I can't swim. How do I learn? What about what to eat? What to drink? What equipment do I need? I can't afford a tri bike and my road bike is too big for me. Can I ride with that? Can I handle the stress and the juggling of work, church, training, friends and family? Where do I start?

The storms of this life....

Walk through the valley of the shadow of death...your perfect love casting out fear... I always imagine the hills that I train at. It is a valley and a climb up. And physically, it gives me an imagery of the valley of the shadow of death. And I know Jesus was always there w/ me every step of the way...

As tempting as it is to quit or to go back, I never do. There is just part of me that I don't want to let go. I don't want to quit so easily. It is so easy to just sit back and do nothing. So easy. Why live so easily? Why not just hold on and see where it goes? Especially when I don't know what's the next step will be like?

And I will fear no evil
For my God is with me
And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear?
Whom then shall I fear?

Evil can be overwhelming at times. It is like a huge enemy. The Goliath in my life. I can feel it. It is at times appear as sins crawling right beneath my skin. I can sense it. It hovers all around me. Why is there a fear for it? I have the ultimate weapon with me, Jesus. He has protected me before and He will protect me.

Chorus:
Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me

The storm. The low. Those are the times when quitting is ever more enticing. That's when the rubber meets the road. That's when I got to ask myself what kind of faith that I have and how much am I willing to go? As tempting to quit, the thought of let's just leave it all on the table, put all the eggs in one basket and relying solely on faith is ever attractive. If not, invigorating. If our life is nothing more than blowing in the wind, we might as well just go and try something we never imagine before.

Today at sermon, this song was play during a video. I sang this song through my run in the woods. The run was my meditation. I love being in the forest. The calmness gives me a chance to recharge my self..my soul. It gives me a place where I can be open with God.

Lord, I will never let you go because you never let go of me. Let's just see how deep this valley goes.