There was a chorus at I loved to sing as a kid

My Bible: reasons to believe in the power of the Bible

‘There was a chorus at I loved to sing as a kid: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.” I found that encouraging. I didn’t know back then that it was from the Bible, from Psalm 23. 

‘It reminds me that my future is sure. There have been times when my faith has really needed that reminder. I lost my sister in a car crash when she was 30. She lived in Yorkshire and I was in Norfolk. I’d just been back for her 30^th birthday. 

‘It was a March day and she skidded on some ice on the way to work. 

‘It was a hard time. I never got to say goodbye. I had to tell my Mum. I had lost my Dad from cancer a few years before. With my Dad I knew he was saved and because he had cancer he was with us for a good year after the diagnosis, so we had time to say goodbye. 

‘With my sister, I wasn’t prepared and she was so young. I was devastated. It was such a shock. 

‘But I had an unusual sense of peace. Psalm 23 helped me to know that God is good. I didn’t feel that God had done this. Knowing that God is good and that goodness and mercy will follow me meant that he had me in the palm of his hand. I knew I didn’t have to worry. It gave me strength.’ 

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