Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for you, are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
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Psalm 23:4
In the Bible, valleys symbolize periods of hardship and suffering. The Psalmist evokes a particularly dangerous and painful image by referring to “the valley of the shadow of death”. In the midst of a poem meant to provide comfort and assurance is a cold reminder that spiritual valleys are inevitable. But if we read only of green pastures and quiet waters, we miss the heart of the Psalm and an important truth about the Christian faith.–
Psalm 23:4
The valley verse contains a precious promise not found among the lovely first lines. In times of troubles and hardship, we discover “You are with me”. God’s unwavering presence becomes most obvious to us when we are going through the valley experiences in life. And along with His assurance of provision and comfort comes the promise of his ever-abiding presence — even in the depths of our despair. He has promised never to leave us nor forsake us. If we don’t walk by faith but by sight, we feel He has abandoned us in times of trouble. But filled with the knowledge that God holds us no matter how deep or wide our “valley” is, we can reject fear and boldly wait on Him.
As the Good Shepherd, Jesus protects and guides His lambs through the trials and temptations of life. Even in these low places, we need not fear any evil. His rod beats away predators and His staff’s crooked neck pulls a wandering sheep back from the cliff’s edge.
Prayer:
Thank you, Lord, for your comforting presence even in my darkest hour.Scriptural Reading:
Psalm 23:1-6
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#FearNoEvil
Shalom!
