✝ Daily Encouragement (02/2/26) "When The Shadows Deepen"
Published: Mon, 02/02/26
Updated: Mon, 02/02/26
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Monday,
February 2,
2026
According
to our weather
forecast temps
are projected
to remain cold
so we will see
the snow on
the ground for
awhile longer.
"When
The Shadows
Deepen"
Message
summary:
When
shadows deepen
on life's
journey we can
remain steady
if we stand on
the promise of
Scripture that
God is with
us. May He
give you that
assurance in
regard to
whatever
deepening
shadows you
are facing.
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
"Even
though I walk
through the
valley of the
shadow of
death, I will
fear no evil,
for You are
with me"
(Psalm 23:4).
In
our worship
service
yesterday we
sang "Is He
Worthy?"
written by
Andrew
Peterson. It's
written in a
call-and-response
fashion, that
poses profound
questions
about the
state of the
world, some of
the same
questions
you've
probably asked
yourself.
Peterson
reinforces the
message of
hope and
assurance
found in
Christ's
redemptive
power and His
work in our
lives. The
lyrics reflect
on the
brokenness of
the world and
affirm our
belief, as
followers of
Christ, in His
redemptive
power: Do you feel the world is broken?
(We
do)
Do you feel the shadows deepen?
(We
do)
But do you know that all the dark won't stop the light from getting through?
(We
do)
Do you wish that you could see it all made new?
(We
do)
It's
a song that
really makes
you
contemplate
the conditions
that surround
us: from our
own personal
brokenness to
national and
world
conditions. It
is very
obvious the
world is
broken and,
yes, we sure
do feel it.
After
leading us in
worship during
the second
service
Brooksyne
and the other
choir members
came off the
platform so
they could sit
with their
families and
hear the
sermon. We've
sat in the
same general
area of the
sanctuary
since we began
attending
nearly nine
years ago. In
a large church
these are the
folks we refer
to as our "pew
neighbors".
At
the conclusion
of the service
a pew
neighbor, who
is also a
choir member,
approached us
and gave us an
update on her
husband who
has been very
ill and will
undergo a
blood
transfusion
this week.
His
condition is
quite dire and
we could see
the weariness
and strain on
her face. Yet
after
caring for her
husband
she managed to
come to church
and sing in
the choir for
the latter two
services (the
choir sings in
all three
services).
Before we
parted we
joined
together in
prayer for her
husband and
for her as his
caregiver.
They
are
experiencing a
season when
they surely
feel the
shadows
deepening in
their personal
lives. I
thought of
that knowing
that she would
return to the
platform to
sing again for
the third
service as an
expression of
her faith,
obedience and
responsibility
as a choir
member. We
sure hope the
song
ministered to
her heart.
When
Andrew
Peterson wrote
"Do
you feel the
shadows
deepen?"
he was likely
alluding to
Psalm
23:4.
Most readers,
even those
vaguely
familiar with
the Bible,
recognize this
Psalm.
"Even
though I walk
through the
valley of the
shadow of
death". Walking
through the
valley of the
shadow of
death is a
familiar path
most all of us
have been on
at some point
in life. It
might be that
inevitable
event when the
time is
nearing for a
loved one
dearest on
earth to us or
eventually our
own. But there
are many
valley
experiences
all throughout
our lifetime.
In preparation
for this
message I
purposefully
recalled
several of
them in my own
life.
David,
who wrote the
Psalm,
personally
knew dark
periods of
walking
through the
valley of the
shadow of
death such as
when he was
pursued by an
insanely
jealous Saul
and later
during his
experience
with Absalom.
He faced many
fierce battles
over his
lifetime.
"I will fear no evil, for You are with me". Deepening shadows can certainly prompt fear. They surely have in my own life. David proclaims a powerful resolve. W e can find a calm assurance when we remember that God is with us even in the darkest of places. The darkness of our circumstance won't stop the light of Christ from shining through to meet our deepest need.
So
we end with
another
thoughtful
phrase in the
song, "Is it
good that we
remind
ourselves of
this? It
is".
Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"Is
He
Worthy?"
Watch
on YouTube
Calvary Church
Choir and
Orchestra
Dave Ross, our
worship leader
begins with a
very
thoughtful
purpose for
corporate
worship. "Is He Worthy?" Watch on YouTube Andrew Peterson, who wrote the song. If you are interested here's the story behind the song as told by Andrew Peterson. (pdf)
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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers, The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. the King James Version and a variety of other versions using Bible Gateway.
Personal
Mission
Statement:
How to become
a
Christian:Personal
Mission
Statement: "I
am created by
God to bring
Him glory.
Through God's
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Christ I have
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and make it my
life's goal to
please the
Lord. My
mission in
life is to
honor God
through my
faith and
obedience and
prepare myself
and all whom I
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