Glass Tunnel

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Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. – Psalm 23:4a

“Sticks and stone may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.” I’m sure when I was hearing that “true-ism” as a child, the adults who taught it to me believed it wise and profound. But the truth was, words could and did hurt – they hurt a lot!

Unflattering nicknames assaulted my self-worth when I was a preadolescent at the country club pool, where we “privileged” kids spent most of the summer. (Funny, I didn’t always feel that privileged…) Those nicknames launched me into a decades-old battle with body image and a 12-year eating disorder.

When we grow into adults, especially as Christians, there is an expectation of a certain amount of maturity. That expectation includes the hope that what malicious people say about us will run off our backs like rain off a duck. Sadly, this isn’t always the case. Even at the tender age of 71, I still have to remind myself almost daily of the humbling of words a former pastor of mine:

“You won’t worry so much about what other people think of you, once you realize how seldom they do.”

I think I was in my thirties when it had come to my attention that I had been the subject of some serious gossip. Although outwardly my reaction was, “Who cares what they think? I know I haven’t done anything wrong.” But inwardly, I was bothered by the talk, maybe because having people think I was guilty of some gross sin would damage my witness, but no doubt also because I just didn’t want people to think I was anything besides the pure, righteous woman I fancied myself to be. Sometime during that season, I had a profound dream that I remember to this day:

I was in a place that was very unfamiliar to me in my waking life. It was a dark, noisy, smoky, crowded bar, and I was trying to leave. There were numerous people packed together between me and the door, and I wondered how I would ever get out of there. This was definitely not an environment I felt comfortable in!

At one point a fight broke out. Some strong-looking, drunken men started throwing punches, and I was sure I would be hit and injured, maybe even knocked out. I must have said a hasty prayer, because I felt the presence of God. When I opened my eyes, I saw a bright spot in that dark place. It was a soft glow, lighting a narrow path from me to the door. I took a step, bracing myself for whatever blows would land on me.

But as I took one cautious step after another on that bright path, I experienced an unexpected peace. Although the fighting around me continued, there seemed to be an invisible shield between the violent men and me. Fists that flew my way stopped abruptly, inches from my face, as though hitting a glass barrier, and I walked on, untouched.

Maybe words can’t hurt us. They certainly can’t harm us, unless we allow them to. Although I was strengthened by the obvious message of that dream, in order to live it out I needed to remind myself continuously to stay on the narrow path (Matthew 7:13), walk in the light (I John 1:7), and have faith in the Lord – that faith being my invisible shield (Ephesians 6:16).

When David set out to kill Goliath, he declined the King’s offer of armor. Shielded only by his faith, unlike others who had fled the giant, he ran confidently toward him. And as we all know, he swiftly won the battle. As a warrior, he no doubt spent much of his life “walking through the valley of the shadow of death.” But even as civilians living thousands of years later, we can look to the God-inspired words he wrote and take comfort and courage from them.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for giving us everything we need to protect us from the world’s attacks. Thank You for Your patience with us, as we repeatedly let ourselves be distracted by the empty threats and accusations of the enemy. Help us keep our eyes on You and our feet on the narrow path, in Jesus’ name. Amen

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Published by seekingdivineperspective

I am a forgiven sinner and adopted child of God, seeking to see life from His perspective - as opposed to the world's flawed perspective - and living my life accordingly.

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26 thoughts on “Glass Tunnel”

    1. Dianna Parish Crumpacker Thank you so much for this. It was so encouraging. And I missed seeing you when I was at Portage Lake with Tenley over the 4th. Next year?!

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  7. How about that, Annie–my mother spoke words to me similar to what your pastor told you. With you I pray to keep my eyes on God and my feet on the path he’s chosen for me–right past those naysayers and gossipers. (And please Lord, keep me from joining them!)

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  9. It always amazes me when the Lord leads me to a specific message He wants me to hear that speaks to the struggle I am experiencing. Your post is one of those messages. Sometimes attacks from the enemy come through a fellow believer and that will send you reeling. Thank you for allowing the Lord to lead and guide you to write this encouraging post. God bless you, Annie!

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  11. I’ve been reminded a lot lately of the Proverb that says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue…”

    God made the world through speaking it into being. The part I have to remember is that, as we’re created in his image, my own words have power too. To speak life, to myself and to others, and believe the words Jesus speaks about us. Such as, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” (Psalm 139:14) or “For we are God’s handiwork…” (Ephesians 2:10). The list goes on.

    Speaking these…I’d say they change the, “Don’t worry so much about what others think of you, because they don’t think about you that much” into “Don’t worry so much about what others think of you, because Jesus thinks much of you.”

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  12. I quite miss the times when I believed that words cannot harm me. I even try to get back on that path. (I like your dream imagery. Thanks for sharing.)

    It’s not that words can’t hurt us, but it seems these days that we have become overly sensitive due to the world around us. We are told people need to be tolerant and kind and when they are not, we are shocked (and get hurt). If we’re aware that people are broken creatures and that it only matters what God thinks about us, then we will be hurt by words less (less often or the hurt won’t last as long).

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  14. The Lord spoke to me many years ago, while I was still in my youth, from the words he spoke to Jeremiah (chapter 1): “But you, dress yourself for work; arise, and say to them everything that I command you. Do not be dismayed by them, lest I dismay you before them. 18 And I, behold, I make you this day a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land. 19 They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, declares the Lord, to deliver you.”

    The Lord Jesus, over my lifetime, allowed me to face many people casting me down and treating me like I was dirt underneath their feet for them to walk on. I faced tons of rejections and mean and nasty and hateful comments said to me about me. And if I began to retreat in fear, he encouraged me to get back in the battle. Then there was a time in life for a short while when the oppression of the enemy was such a strong force in my life, coming from many different directions, that I did give in to fear and I lacked faith and obedience to my Lord. But then he brought me back around, and through it all he made me strong so that I would “set my face like a flint” and not ever again let the words of others to me, about me, impact how I lived my life for the glory of God.

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  15. Thank you so much for your transparent sharing, Annie. It is comforting to know that someone who walks as closely with Jesus as you do still has to remind herself of His truth about body image — since I am on that same journey! I am grateful. Also, what an extremely wonderful dream that was! That is a lifer for sure in terms of marking your heart. Love it so much. Oh, one more thing, I have been meditating on the David and Goliath story myself a lot the last couple weeks and it made me smile to see it here, especially because I have been getting ready to prepare a set of teaching notes similar to what you shared. I love Holy Spirit confirmations!

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