"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." --Psalm 23:4
This was the verse God instructed me to read this morning during prayer time at my church.
YEA, THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY...
Sometimes we find ourselves walking through valleys: sometimes we wake up in one, not knowing how on earth we got there, and sometimes we are led to walk there, knowing from the start that God has brought us to the valley with a specific task or objective in mind.
Yes, we all walk here--in the valley.
The valley is a place of decision. It's tough walking there, and with every difficult step, we must make the decision to keep going or to stop. To stop or to lay down and die. Many people give up in the valley. Many people just aren't prepared for its hardship. The valley is a place of proving. It's a character-building place of opportunity.
Any kind of opportunity the valley affords will be costly.
One might lose their friends in the valley. There are too many "unknowns." Where will my next meal come from? Will I live to see tomorrow?
You've got to be strong just to survive walking in the valley. You may have to go toe-to-toe with some scary opponents--wild creatures or wild mankind. People come after you here. You've got to have backbone. You've got to be made of steel.
I remember, recently, hearing someone being described as a person of steel. That they had it in their eyes. Something about them was piercing, strong, unbendable. That's the kind of person that makes it through the valley.
It's important, when in the valley, to have the mindset going in that you are "going through" it. That this isn't the final resting place. That you will not be stranded here. It's important to get THROUGH the valley. On the other side, is the testimony of God's protection, provision, and blessing. It is the PROOF that if we walk with Him, we will make it through.
If you are going through a valley--and I don't care how LONG you have been going through it--I just want to encourage you to HOLD ON TO HIS HAND, to realize that the trials are TEMPORARY, that He is WITH YOU!!!
Just take one step at a time. Hold to His hand. He's there with you.
YEA,THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH, I WILL FEAR NO EVIL...
No matter how frightening the valley looks or how intimidating, remember that as a CHILD OF THE MOST HIGH GOD, you DO NOT HAVE TO FEAR. Fear is a tool the enemy uses to get us to fall down, stop walking, stop attacking. The enemy of our souls wants us to give up, give in, be controlled by crazy fear.
But as children of the Most High God, we don't have to be afraid. NO MATTER HOW DARK THIS ROAD GETS, HOW MANY ENEMIES SURROUND YOU, YOUR LIFE IS IN GOD'S HANDS. WE CAN TRUST EVERY MOMENT TO HIM.
(I don't know why I'm addressing people directly right now, but I felt compelled to say that to "someone out there in cyberland" directly.)
...FOR THOU ART WITH ME; THY ROD AND THY STAFF THEY COMFORT ME.
He is with us. No matter what. He loves us, always, and walks with us each and every step of the way.
No matter how dark it gets, no matter how close to death, He walks with us. In every situation. He hears our heart's cry. He loves loves loves us. (He loves loves loves you.)
Forever, Amen.
