Personal Reflection on Jehovah Raah

One of my favorite parts of the book, "16 Names of God: a Strong Tower to Run to" is the personal reflections. Each of the 16 chapters in the book contains a personal reflection written by a different girl.

These personal reflections are moving! They challenge us. They are thought-provoking and we are better off having read them.

​I want to share one of these with you so that you can get just a bite-sized sample of what to expect when you read "16 Names of God."

I love Christine's transparency here, "The more I prayed, the more the Spirit kept drawing me to pray. I needed to be led through this dark valley. My mind needed to be still. Psalm 23, and the reality of my precious Shepherd walking beside me granted me the energy and faith to keep following Him." 

"​Sunken eyes, empty stares, and sleeping often were the way I would describe our fourteen-year-old daughter Katelynn. She had recently moved up to high school, experienced a loss of a dear friend by way of a move, and a church change for our family. In my mind, I was looking at a teenager who was not handling all this change well and was slipping into a place of depression and isolation. There was a sense of helplessness and utter despair as her spirit and physical condition started to deteriorate. It was terrifying.

My husband decided to take her to the doctor to get a complete physical examination. He felt this would give us a clearer picture of what we were dealing with. The doctor gave her a clean bill of health and sent her on her way. They agreed with our assessment of a young girl struggling to adjust to all the changes. With this diagnosis, we sat Kate down and gave her instructions to eat well, get in bed early, and talk to a trusted advisor. We assured her that we were going to begin addressing her emotional battle.
 
Although I knew what we had been told, something in my heart was not settled. I begged the Lord for peace and the ability to stop wrestling with the doubt in my mind. I wanted the confidence to rest and begin diving into this path of Kate’s emotional healing. The more I prayed, the more the Spirit kept drawing me to pray. I needed to be led through this dark valley. My mind needed to be still. Psalm 23, and the reality of my precious Shepherd walking beside me granted me the energy and faith to keep following Him. I was not sure where He even wanted me to go, or what the end would be, but I allowed the staff of His Word to guide me as I continued to pray.

A few days later, we received an urgent call from the doctor. The instructions were clear. Katelynn needs to be taken immediately to the emergency room. The doctor had received the results of the one test they were unable to complete on the day of Kate’s visit. They had discovered that her blood sugar on that day registered at 1,400. Katelynn was a type 1 diabetic.
 
The next few days were spent learning how to handle her diagnosis. From insulin shots to counting carbs, her life and the life of our family would be permanently affected. It may seem odd to say, but I felt a sense of relief that I hadn’t felt in several weeks. My Shepherd persisted in His provision and guidance. His prompting to keep following and praying in spite of what others were saying had proven to be where the true place of still waters and green pastures was awaiting.
 
Katelynn is adjusting to her diagnosis and being a freshman in high school with grace and strength. I pray that she leans into her Shepherd as she walks this path chosen for her. As He led me, so will He continue to lead her all the days of her life. Praise His Name." —Christine

Share your personal reflection on the name of God Jehovah Raah​ in the comments.

Read more: Jehovah Raah: The Lord My Shepherd

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