Dark Valleys And Death's Shadow

It takes the darkness and fear of the night to bring out the brilliance and beauty of the stars. When we face the fear of the unknown, we often find the grace of God. “Though I walk through,” David said, “the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil because You are with me!”

We are all joyfully aware of God’s presence when days are filled with sunshine and warmth. All of us, however, have at one time or another, entered into valleys that are filled with ill-defined shadows that we find frightening and foreboding. We look for a light to shine over the rim of the mountain to give us the assurance that there is hope. Yet, it is because of those days of sunshine and warmth that David reminds us to remember that God is also with us when all is not well, and the light that faithfully guided us fades.

There are times when our “valley” may take the form of suffering. When it does, we must not forget that Jesus also suffered. So we know that He understands our suffering and is with us. When we face the fear and darkness of the unknown, we often discover the grace of God as Jesus did on the cross. And when we feel abandoned and alone, we must not forget that those who He spent three years training to be His disciples forsook Him. And remember – when He was laid to rest, it was in someone else’s tomb.

Our Savior has walked through every “dark valley” that we will ever have. He understands our grief. Now, He is in heaven with His Father and when we go to Him in prayer with our needs, we have the assurance that He understands our needs because He was there before us, understands from experience what we are facing, and will deliver 

Prayer: We are blest, Father, by Your presence and protection as we pass through life’s dark valleys, knowing that as Your Father saved You, You will save us. In His Name, Amen.

Scripture For Today:  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. Psalm 23:4

Faith, Fear And Facts

Walking in “paths of righteousness” does not protect us from the “valleys” of life, but we can be sure that the Lord Himself is with us and will protect us while we are in those valleys.” Though we may be surrounded by what may seem to be the ultimate darkness brought about by evil, we can rest in confidence and be filled with courage because we know that God’s presence and power guarantees His protection.

“Your rod and your staff, they comfort me,” wrote David. These two powerful words, rod and staff were not meaningless words – but words that describe the ways that the shepherds guarded and protected their sheep.

The rod was used by shepherds to beat away any external enemy that might harm his sheep. The “crooked” staff was used by shepherds to snatch his sheep from getting in harm’s way. So, here we have a picture of how our Shepherd watches over us. He guards us from any external enemy that would attack, defeat, or destroy us. He makes certain that they will not come near us nor harm us because His arm is around us. Nor will he allow internal enemies – thoughts or ideas – that would cause us to doubt His love, mercy, grace, salvation, or hope to destroy the peace His presence brings us.

Our Shepherd’s rod and staff summarize His role and describe the ways He will care for us if we allow Him. And when we allow Him to become our Shepherd we can say with David, “I will walk through valleys and fear no evil! The threats will not overcome me.”

Prayer: Lord, give us faith to believe in the facts of Your Word that in Your strength we need fear no evil or harm that could destroy us. Keep us close! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture For Today: 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. Psalm 23:4 

Faith, Fear And Facts

Walking in “paths of righteousness” does not protect us from the “valleys” of life, but we can be sure that the Lord Himself is with us and will protect us. Though we may be surrounded by what may seem to be the ultimate darkness brought about by evil, we can rest in confidence because we know that God’s presence guarantees His protection.

“Your rod and your staff, they comfort me,” wrote David. These two powerful words, rod and staff were not meaningless words – but words that describe the ways that the shepherds guarded and protected their sheep.

The rod was used by shepherds to beat away any external enemy that might harm his sheep. The “crooked” staff was used by shepherds to snatch his sheep from getting in harm’s way. So, here we have a picture of how our Shepherd watches over us. He guards us from any external enemy that would attack, defeat or destroy us. He makes certain that they will not come near us nor harm us because His arm is around us. Nor will he allow internal enemies – thoughts or ideas – that would cause us to doubt His love, mercy, grace or salvation to destroy the peace His presence brings us.

Our Shepherd’s rod and staff summarize His role and describe the ways He will care for us if we allow Him. And when we allow Him to become our Shepherd we can say with David, “I will walk through valleys and fear no evil! They will not overcome me.”

Prayer: Lord, give us faith to believe in the facts of Your Word that in Your strength we need fear no evil. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Dark Valleys - Death's Shadow

It takes the darkness and fear of the night to bring out the brilliance and beauty of the stars. When we face the fear of the unknown, we often find the grace of God. “Though I walk through,” David said, “the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil because You are with me!”

We are all joyfully aware of God’s presence when days are filled with sunshine and warmth. All of us, however, have at one time or another, entered into valleys that are filled with ill-defined shadows that we find frightening and foreboding. We look for a light to shine over the rim of the mountain to give us the assurance that there is hope. Yet, it is because of those days of sunshine and warmth that David reminds us to remember that God is also with us when all is not well and the light that faithfully guided us fades.

There are times when our “valley” may take the form of suffering. When it does, we must not forget that Jesus also suffered. So it is with us. When we face the fear and darkness of the unknown we often discover the grace of God. And when we feel abandoned and alone we must not forget that those who He spent three years training to be His disciples forsook Him. And remember – when He was laid to rest it was in someone else’s tomb.

Our Savior has walked through every “dark valley” that we will ever have. He understands our grief. Now, He is in heaven with His Father and when we go to Him in prayer with our needs, we have the assurance that He understands our needs. He was there before us, understands us and will deliver us. Know that God will do for us what He did for His Son.

Prayer: We are blest, Father, by Your presence and protection as we pass through life’s dark valleys. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Living In The Shadow

There is nothing more certain than death and nothing more uncertain than life or the time of one’s death. Although we cannot prepare for the events that will come into our lives, we can prepare for the day that our life will end. So, it’s wise to be prepared for that unknown day when we will meet God face to face.

In Psalm 23 David wrote, “Even though I will walk through the dark valley of death, I will not be afraid for You are close beside me.” David was prepared for “the valley.”

David said with confidence that “I will walk through.” Death was not a dead-end street for David nor is it a dead-end street for the Christian. It is a throughway to heaven.

For many the “shadow of death” is a very frightening thought. Its dampening effect reminds us that we are entirely helpless as we face its uncertain hour. There are many enemies in life that we can face and fight – pain and sorrow, suffering and grief, hunger, rejection and abandonment. But death? Fighting against it is useless. It is beyond our control.

But even though we may be helpless as we face the certainty of death, Christians are not hopeless as we face eternity. There is a Person who will meet us at the “appointed time” and walk us safely though the “valley of the shadow.”

Prayer: We rejoice, Father, in Your promise that for the Christian “to die is gain!” We thank You for Your presence in our lives and the peace that we have in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.