A few months ago, my 8-year-old son and I joined a tour group in the Old City of Jerusalem.  My son was walking next to the tour guide in front of the group, while I was towards the back, pushing someone in a wheelchair. We were walking from the Jewish Quarter to the Garden Tomb, and at one point, it became very crowded as we were walking in the very narrow streets of the Old City.

After we arrived to our destination, the tour guide told me a story about my son. As we were starting to walk, the tour guide asked my son if he wants to hold his hand, and my brave young boy replied, “No way …”.  As we continued, and it continued to become more crowded, again the guide asked my son if he would like to hold his hand, and once again he received the same reply, “No way!” Finally, it got so crowded with many people coming from all directions that suddenly, my brave 8-year-old boy grabbed the guide’s hand.  It was at that point that my son was a little scared and unsure; he needed the comfort and protection of someone bigger than him.

I smile when I think of this story, as it wonderfully illustrates what David wrote in the fourth verse of Psalm 23: “For you are with me …” In Hebrew it’s written, “כִּי־אַתָּ֥ה עִמָּדִ֑י“, “Ki Ata Emadi”, which literally means “because you are standing with me”. Our Heavenly Father, the One who in the beginning created the heavens and earth, who brought Israel back to the Promised Land, who resurrected His Son from the dead, He is the One standing right beside you as you walk in the valley that mirrors death.  What an amazing promise that we can walk in His power, under His wings of refuge!

“You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4

Regardless of what you may be going through, remember that God is standing right beside you and is waiting for you to embrace Him and hold His hand. There you will find comfort, security, strength and peace.

Shabbat Shalom,

Moran