Have you ever had a nightmare where you were being chased by something? Maybe it was someone you actually knew, or maybe it was a car, or maybe it was just some nameless, faceless entity. We wake up from such dreams and even though our hearts are still beating fast, we’re relieved. Oh, it was just a dream.

If the dream were real, what would you like to have happen? We’d want something to stop whatever it was that was chasing us, right?

Or, let’s picture it this way. You’re walking down a dark alley at night. Bad section of town. You feel all alone. Then, you hear footsteps. And they seem to be keeping pace with you. Your heart quickens, and pace does a little, too, but you don’t want to show too much fear. Then, you pass under a light and—when you’re a little further on—you cast a glance backwards to see who’s following you as they pass under the light and you see that it’s a good friend. Your friend who has a black belt in karate and is president of the local chapter of the NRA; the guy that teaches the conceal and carry class. Suddenly, with him at your back, you’re not worried anymore.

Psalm 23:6
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. (NKJV)

Those are pretty good things to have watching your back, aren’t they. And think about how great it is that they are both there.

“Goodness” by itself, can be kind of scary because it can be kind of harsh. Even Jesus wouldn’t own up to being good, saying that was a term that only applied to the father.

“Mercy” without goodness is unnecessary, or enabling.

“Goodness and mercy” together are a wonderful combination. We have God’s goodness watching our back, and his mercy is picking up the pieces of our mistakes.

“Goodness and love unfailing, these will follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long” (NEB).

“I know that your goodness and love will be with me all my life; and your house will be my home as long as I live” (TEV).

“Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. I’m back home in the house of YAHWEH for the rest of my life” (MSG).

Doubt.

We may have been in church before and have it in our heads that goodness and mercy are following us—that God himself has got our back—but still we find ourselves feeling alone and vulnerable and very worried at times.

We’re not even alone in feeling that way. Lazarus felt like he was dying alone, then all of a sudden he’s hobbling out of his tomb, wrapped in grave clothes, and living in the sunlight again. The Samaritan woman felt so alone that she was ashamed to even go draw water with the rest of the village women, but Jesus sat down and talked to her. Peter felt alone and like he had blown everything by denying Christ, but Jesus invited him to a supper for two. Paul was trying to kill all the Christians but then God did set him alone (and blind) and drew him close.

Do you ever doubt that goodness and mercy were surely following you? Let me give you some tips:

First, remember that this is verse 6. In other words, David didn’t just land here one day. He has learned to trust his shepherd for leadership, for a place to rest, for his food, and for protection. We’ve been four months studying this Psalm (almost done!) and I hope it’s been a good journey that has brought you to the place where you can finally acknowledge that goodness and mercy are there.

Second, trust your faith and not your feelings. We hear it in movies all the time and read it in books and sing it in songs, “Trust your heart.” But Jeremiah tells us the “heart is deceitful above all” (Jer. 17:9). Your heart’s got a lot of sin in it and it’s going to try and trick you into believing you’re alone. Trust your faith, though, and know that God is with you.

Third, measure your value through God’s eyes and not your own. By the world’s standards, you may not feel like you add up to much. But God loved you so much he sent his only son to die for you. You’re really worth a whole lot!

Finally, see the big picture and not the small. The Apostle Peter actually walked on water for a couple steps, but then he took his eyes off of what was important (Jesus) and got distracted by the small picture (wind and waves) and he started sinking. How often do we look at little things going on around us to the point that we take our eyes off what matters?

What do I DO with this?
The four things I just mentioned!

Comments? Email me at martha917@yahoo.com