God of the Valley

“Even though I walked 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

The valley takes on many forms. The valley is a difficult season at work, a troubling time with your family, the loss of a loved one, a battle with addiction. Many seasons of life are lived in the valley. 

Because God is so good and so powerful, we can sometimes make the mistake of thinking that if we believe in God, then nothing bad will ever happen to us. This is obviously untrue. The Psalmist believed in God, and yet he was walking through the valley of the shadow of death. I believe in God, but I still find myself facing hardship on a weekly basis. Jesus literally was God, but I don’t think anyone would argue that he never faced the valley of a troublesome situation.

The beautiful promise of our God is not that he makes every valley disappear, but that when we are stuck within it, he is still with us. Our faith is not about ignoring our problems, but learning to recognize that God is with us through them all. As my good friend, Tauren Wells wrote, “You’re the God of the Hills and Valleys, and I am not alone.”

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for your presence in everything. Whether it be the highs or the lows, the losses or the victories, I know that you are there. I pray that you would make me more aware of your presence in the valley and strengthen me by it.