"Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil for You are with me."
Psalm 23:4
Nobody wants to walk through the valley of life, but that day will come for most of us sooner or later. The good news is that God walks with us. Therefore, we need not fear any evil. A preacher who had an impact on my life was stricken with cancer. He wrote about walking through the valley of the shadow of death. "With a life-threatening illness, I wept as I saw my utter need to go deeper with God. I had to embrace the truth that I could not control nor plan my life. But one thing I found that the view from the valley gave me a focus on Christ that I wouldn't have gained any other way." He walked out of the valley to go home with God in 1997.
Most of us recognize God with us through the "mountain top experience." It's full of joy and delight. God is with us and we know it. "The God on the mountain is still God in the valley." The scenery changes, but our God changes not. He is still with us, even when suffering and pain come our way.
Where are you today? Oh, I hope that you are on the mountain with God. However, many are walking through the valley this very day. God may just work through you to walk with someone through the valley. Fear lurks in the shadows to attack the faith of God's children. But remember, fear is a choice that may be refused through faith in the God who loves us through the valley. It's not so much where you walk today. It's about the One who walks with you. He's God everywhere, even through the valley.
Father, walk with us through every valley of life, in Jesus name. Amen.
