Blog post June 22, 2026

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4b

The rod and staff are tools of a shepherd, symbolizing guidance, protection, and discipline. The rod, often used for defense against predators, represents God's power to protect and correct. The staff, used to guide and support sheep, symbolizes God's guidance and care. Together, they provide a sense of security and comfort, reinforcing the shepherd imagery that pervades Psalm 23.

Gladys Aylward was a British-born missionary who served in Yangcheng, China for 38 years. She stood all of 4'10" but became known as the woman whom the living God lived inside of her.

One day she received a summons from the mandarin to go and assist the prison warden to stop a riot. Fear and dread instantly overwhelmed her. What could she a small, foreign woman possibly do to help stop a riot? Gladys felt sick to her stomach but knew if she refused word would spread that there was no living God inside her. God's reputation was as much on the line as was her life. she knew she had to go.

As Gladys made her way through the tunnel into the prison she prayed "Oh God, protect and comfort me now. I can only go if You go before me." The scene was worse than she imagined. Dead bodies were everywhere and a man was running toward her waving a machete. Without thinking, Gladys stepped forward and yelled, "Stop at once, and give me that machete!"

As if an invisible hand was holding him back, the crazed man froze with his machete in mid-air and dropped it to the ground. All of the other prisoners stopped fighting to watch this little foreign woman bring order to the chaos.

Gladys experienced the Shepherd's invisible rod that day, as she was divinely protected.

Heavenly Father thank you for the reminder of Your protection today. Thank you for the reminder that even though we may be scared to death, when we move forward in Your strength, Your rod and Your staff protect and comfort us. Once again for Your names sake. What a beautiful Psalm this is when we meditate on it. Thank you in Jesus name. AMEN AMEN.