Recently a dear relative and his wife lost their first
pregnancy at five months. She went into labor suddenly and delivered a beautiful
baby boy, still born. Needless to say, they are devastated and the entire family
is hurting with and for them.
The first week home from the hospital they chose to remain secluded
and grieve their loss together privately. But in the midst of their pain their
faith remained strong. They spent a lot of time in GOD’s WORD seeking comfort,
understanding and strength.
This dear young couple is going through what the psalmist
David describes as a dark valley (Psalm 23:4) – a time of darkness,
pain and suffering.
All believers will face dark
valley days at some point in their lifetime. Family support and land our closest
friends can help to ease our hurts and get us through tough times.
However, some burdens are beyond human understanding and bearing
and we need more. Those are the situations where only divine help can keep us
from total collapse.
GOD promises to be
with us in our dark valley.
Psalm 23 may be as
well known to believers as it is to non-believers.
But for believers this Psalm should never be allowed
to become stale and commonplace.
This psalm can be our spiritual lifeline in a crisis. Every
line of the eight verses that make up this song of praise and thanksgiving speaks
of GOD’s tender loving care for His children.
Although the Psalm is known to and by many, its promises are
for those who are in CHRIST JESUS. He is the GOOD SHEPHERD. Only through Him are
we the children of GOD. And only through Him do we receive the protection from earthly
and spiritual lack and ruin that this Psalm celebrates.
Let’s look at the promise in verse 4 – “Even when I go through the
darkest valley, I fear no danger, for You are with me.” Psalm 23:4a. Other versions of the Bible read, even though I walk through the valley of the
shadow of death…”
We all will have a “valley” experience at some time in our
lives. Scripture assures us that we will have suffering in this world but we can
face them with courage since in them we will also have peace. (
John 16:33).
Note the text of Psalm 23:4a doesn’t say if, but when I go through (or even though I walk through.)
Our GOOD SHEPHERD has an assignment from the Father to look
out for GOD’s sheep at all times. In the good and bad times, He is with us.
That includes in the midst of our valley experiences.
Note also that the promise is not that GOD will take away
our troubles, but that He will take us through them.
When we are in a painful
place we tend to pray for escape. Instead GOD says I am taking you through your
troubles and I will be right there in it with you, to give you strength and
comfort.
Why does GOD want us
to endure our trials?
Because we have the GOOD SHEPHERD to watch over us, we are
not defenseless.
We are able to do all things through His strength and to the
glory of the Father who loves us. In our most dire circumstances GOD works for
our good and ultimately, for His glory. (Romans 8:28).
Scripture tells us to rejoice
in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance
produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. Romans 5:3-4 Hope, not in ourselves but in the eternal promises of GOD who is omniscient. He’s
all-knowing and all-seeing.
While we may be unable to see beyond the enfolding darkness
of our present pain, we must not lose hope. Our confidence and trust are in the
GOD who is able to see us through to the other side.
The Old Testament prophet Habakkuk lived through one of the
darkest periods in Jewish history but his confidence in GOD’s sovereignty,
mercy and ability to save and deliver remained fixed:
Even though the fig
trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the
olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks
die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the
Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign Lord is my
strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights. Habakkuk 3:17-19
Why does the GOOD SHEPHERD do all that He
does?
This Psalm tells us it’s for His NAME’s sake (Psalm 23:3).
Renewing our lives, guiding us along right paths, walking us
through the darkest valley are all the ways that GOD shows His faithfulness to us.
And by His faithfulness GOD both gets us safely to the end of our journey and brings
honor to His NAME.
For this reason, we can trust the GOOD SHEPHERD's promise to banish all fear
and give us peace and hope through our darkest
valley.
The good shepherd lays down his life for the
sheep. John 10:11
Prayer and
Thanksgiving: Holy Father, we praise YOU as our faithful GOD and Father and
thank YOU for the GOOD SHEPHERD who watches over us always. We thank YOU for
the wisdom by which you guide us, renew and restore us and for YOUR presence with
us even when we are too distressed to know it. Help us to use Psalm 23 as a daily
song of praise, to get it fixed into our minds and hearts so we know immediately
the comfort and loving care it gives in a crisis. Thank you for loving us so
completely and for the richness of YOUR grace to us. YOUR NAME be glorified for
ever and ever. We pray and ask all things in JESUS’ name. Amen.
Always by God’s Word and prayer,
Cecile
