On Walking "Through" The Darkest Valley

There is a fine Christian lady this writer knows, who is presently going through divorce proceedings, and is feeling the pain and trauma of separation and anxiety closely associated with divorce. This lady is a faithful servant of the Lord, but because her husband is not a Christian, she has undergone the mental trauma of him telling her that he never loved her, even before they got married. Thankfully, they have no children together.

As other members of the Lord's church were encouraging her last Sunday morning after the worship service had concluded, and a prayer had been offered in her behalf, this writer took her aside and opened my Bible to Psalm 23:4 NET, where the Psalmist David states:

"Even when I must walk through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff reassure me."

There's no question that all of us have gone through some dark valleys in our lifetime, (and will continue to do so until death claims us). However, David states that even though we we must walk "through" the darkest valley, we don't have to "stay" in the darkest valley. The Lord will not only be with us in that dark valley, but will carry us "through" it into the light at the end of that valley (also see here), even in the "shadow of death" (Psalm 23:4 NKJV).

Beloved, may we be encouraged by the Psalmist's inspired words this day.

---Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets

Related Articles: here, here, and here