The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade on your right hand.” (Psalm 121:5)

Every year on February 2 since 1887 in the western Pennsylvania community of Punxsutawney, some devout followers make their pilgrimage to a famous part of town known as Gobbler’s Knob. Donning black top hats, officials of the local club oversee the early-morning event as hundreds of public spectators gather. Each asks the question, “Will he, or won’t he?”  The event known as Groundhog Day features Punxsutawney Phil who, for all intents and purposes, is consulted to predict whether winter is nearing an end. According to folklore – the answer comes rather quickly when the small, furry mammal with buck teeth emerges from his burrow. If the beloved groundhog “sees” his shadow, the country is in for six more weeks of winter; if he doesn’t, an early spring will occur. While the tradition remains popular in various parts of the United States and Canada, it’s not surprising that studies have found no consistent correlation between a groundhog seeing its shadow and the subsequent arrival time of spring-like weather.

At one time or other, images of shadows have no doubt played a part in your life. Remember being afraid of shadows when you were lying in bed as a young child? Or maybe when you got a little older, you learned that you could create animal shadows on the wall with your hands and the beam of a flashlight. Perhaps as young adult, you were compared to an older sibling or a cousin – having to declare that you wanted to be your own person and not be forced to live in “anyone’s shadow.”  If you have ever seen Peter Pan, you may remember Peter losing his shadow. As he seeks to retrieve it, he chases it around the room. While trying to get it back, he discovers that it moves more quickly than he does. Of course, it’s impossible for our shadow to move faster or slower than we do. We soon realize that unlike Peter Pan, our shadows stick with and can never be detached from us.

God is like your shadow: He cannot be taken or moved away from you.  Everywhere you go, the Lord follows you. He is your protector. Our kind, benevolent God who is attentive to every one of our steps covers us with His presence. We’re never alone. In Psalm 57:1, we read: “Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by.” Any photographer or artist worth his salt realizes that the realism of their work is captured in the beauty of the light contrasted with shadows. Are our lives, too, not more remarkable because of the shadows? Is this not where God teaches us mercy and compassion, and where strength of character is formed (Romans 5:3-4)? And is it not in the valley of the shadow of death where we learn that God is with us (Ps. 23:4)?

Shadows are woven throughout the scriptures. To demonstrate compassion in the Old Testament, “The LORD God provided a leafy plant and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant” (Jonah 4:6). When the apostles of the New Testament continued Jesus’ ministry after His resurrection, they had a huge impact on the world around them. Their impression was so immense that even the sick and the lame desired to be in Peter’s shadow (Acts 5:15-16), for they realized that even the shadow he left behind was greater than a lot of other religious people they encountered. Perhaps you are going through the valley of the shadow right now. It may be the valley of the shadow of conflict, depression, discouragement, debt, or one of life-threatening illness. Here’s the good news—when you look at any shadow, you know that its source is near. For wherever there’s a shadow, there has to be a light. God’s light is infinitely brighter than any light on earth, and His shadow casts brilliance upon us. We are told: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5). When you see how God brings protection, life, comfort, and peace under the shadow of His wings – you can’t help but be joyful.  For it is there, living in the shadow of the Almighty, that you must never forget . . . His light is not far away.

REFLECTION: In what situations have you recognized how important it is to abide under the shadow of the Almighty? What are the things that you need to do to ensure you are living under God’s shadow? Challenge yourself to be like the apostle Peter. When everything is said and done, would people feel the benefit of being witnesses to the shadow you have left behind?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT., FEBRUARY 9, 2019. COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.