Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me…
Psalm 23:4a
Have you had a “dark valley” experience?
Life in this world has a way of bringing those. Our journey through life takes us to exhilarating mountain-tops and unwanted valleys. The path is sometimes straight, sometimes winding. Some days we see ahead for miles; others, barely enough for the next step. Our journey may be smooth, bumpy, curvy, loud, or lonely.
Spiritually speaking, we may think of the mountain-top walks as times we are closest to God. The sun shines on our faces and all seems right. Peaceful. Worry-free.
In contrast, then, the valley is often a metaphor for life’s struggles: the dangerous, disappointing, and downright hard things that come. A valley walk might bring small irritations and interruptions or deeply painful circumstances – some the result of things we’ve done and others the result of things done to us. Either way, living in the valley can bring no small degree of disillusion, disappointment, and even despair. A time where the sojourner may even question God’s goodness and His faithfulness.
Have you been there? In a place that you ask:
God, are you there?
Do you see?
Do you love me?
Hard things can bring on a crisis to our faith. When we come to the realization that God is big enough, powerful enough, strong enough to do anything. To fix everything. To put the pieces back together, write the wrong, and bring beauty from ashes. Just a nod from Him or a tiny twitch of His pinky finger. We wait, we ask … yet He does not oblige.
The realities of the valley can shake our faith. Some among us have allowed those realities to shatter their faith. But they can also be the most profound opportunity to bolster and strengthen our faith.
Valley-walkers need not conjure up our courage, shake our fist, and boldly declare, “I will not be afraid!” All the human bravado we can muster can’t make us courageous enough to conquer every scary monster in the dark valley. We can make that declaration, but it’s not our own resolve that keeps fear at bay.
The real why behind our declaration – the real reason we can walk without fear – is the presence of God. Because He walks with us, we can keep putting one foot in front of the other, doing the next thing, going forward (sometimes just inch by inch as find our footing). All because our hand is in His.
Is the valley a few yards or a few miles? Will the darkness be around a few days or a few months? Or do we measure it in years?
So many questions.
As I read Psalm 23 again and again, I often find there is new insight in the old, familiar passage. And as I write His Word this week, the “light-bulb” moment is prompted by the little preposition, through.
The valley is a season. It may be a long season, but it won’t last forever. Asking the questions helps us walk through.
Have you settled in with your pain? Are you embracing it as a martyr – allowing it to define you? Are you choosing to live in the valley rather than walk through it?
Would you allow God’s presence to give you courage to get up, take His hand, and walk through?
No matter how far or how long, each step strengthens our faith muscles.
What happens begins to matter less.
Who is with me matters so much more.
God doesn’t suddenly become bigger, but because my faith is bigger, He is a bigger presence in my life.
The valley experiences prompt questions. So many questions. The woman of God asks the questions and leans in to really listen for His answers. We accept His answers, even when they are:
Wait.
Trust me.
Not yet.
His presence calms and reassures. His presence brings peace. Nothing has changed (yet), and yet everything has changed, because the valley has changed me. I trust Him more deeply, hold His hand more tightly.
I may not have all the answers, but I have Him.
And when my question becomes:
Is He enough?
I can declare, even through tears:
He is enough.
HE IS ENOUGH!
OH, JESUS YOU ARE MORE THAN ENOUGH!
In this week’s devotional video, we welcome Jennifer Francis as guest teacher for our ladies Bible study. You will be blessed as Jennifer walks through this week’s text to see how God was providentially working in every detail of the events of Esther’s story. We invite you to listen as Jennifer explains how God accomplished His redemptive purpose through Esther, and as we celebrate that truth, we can rejoice that He does the same for us.
