Ye Though I Walk Through the Valley of the Shadow of Death

Ye though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death; I shall fear no evil for Thou art with me.

Who knows how many times I've read those words found in the 23rd Psalm, or read them, but it wasn't until this week I learned something about the valley that I've never known before.

And the CRAZY, albeit ironic, is it was in my face all along. As humans, we are susceptible to our emotions no matter how strong our faith is. We get overwhelmed with grief, eaten up with sadness
. . . we become frustrated, we doubt things are going to work out in our favor or in the way we want. In short, we fluctuate and are very fickle. When we are walking through the valley, there will be times we are steadfast and firm in the knowledge, and belief, God is working this together for my good, but there will be times when we look around and ALL we see is where we are!

It's scary . . . it's uncertain . . . it's unfamiliar . . . upon first glance; it's FAR from the place we feel God's love and see His faithfulness. Key words being: upon first glance. The thing God showed me a couple of days ago is it's NOT about where you are, but WHO YOU ARE WITH!! My problem is, and the thing I fight, I too often focus on my problem, my situation, my circumstance, my source of disappointment and my loss more than the Solution.

One of the best quotes I've heard about walking in this scary place, where you are stripped down to just your deep dependence on God is from Saddleback Church Pastor Rick Warren.
"When you are walking through the valley of the shadow of death; you turn your back on the shadow and face the Light."

It's simple. Really it's too simple, but it's true. The more we focus on where we are, instead of who we're with, our faith suddenly doesn't feel sufficient enough and our doubt and hurt is all our lives become centered around. But let's pay attention to those four life-changing words, "For Thou art with me."

Those words mean we not only have a Friend on our journey, through the valleys and on the peaks, but we also have a Sanctuary, a place of refuge, somewhere we will be protected and if that's not enough; our Friend will also take our burden. Isn't that amazing?!? And if that doesn't blow your mind, our Friend, our Sanctuary is the Creator of the Universe, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

Matthew 11:28-30 says when we are burdened and weary, He will give us rest. God then encourages us to 'learn of me,' which makes me think . . . do we spend more time focusing on our problem, our heartache or do we see explore what He is teaching us in the valley?

The Devil and sin, which is a parasite found in all of us due to the fall of mankind in the garden, both want us to dwell on the problem, but faith is not saying God do you see how big this problem is? . . . faith is looking at God and saying, "That problem is big, but I know you are BIGGER!"

Whatever has you stressing, down in the dumps, sad, frustrated and feeling as if there is no hope; it pales in comparison to Jesus. Your girlfriend, your wife, your boyfriend, your husband, your career, your finances, your kids . . . whatever is the source of discontentment, because you want your situation to be better, it's at best second place in your life and at worst maybe just in your top five of what's really important.

So, don't look at the waves, no matter how big they are, as if they are the entire ocean. Trust me I know it's not easy to do. When the pain is real, when the tears won't stop and when you feel like giving up, but God has a beautiful plan for your life. . . Keep things in perspective. I had some great friends Damien, Jason, Kris, Logan and Joey, among my parents, Buddy, sister, brother-in-law, Teena and my Mamaw, who reminded me of this very thing. We have to keep the big picture in mind not just this season of our lives. It's going to get better no matter the resolution.

I pray if they do come back that it's better than ever, if you do get that job or career, I pray it's everything, and more, you hoped it would be, if God does you favor in your finances, I pray you remember out of whose hand it was provided. But more than the outcome is our trust when going through this uncomfortable, unpredictable and scary place. It's knowing where He is leading you is BETTER than you've been.

I fear we are dyslexic as believers. We focus on finding our healing, overcoming our addiction, beating that nagging sin and look for all these ways to approach our problems THEN we go to God. We need to go to God to find our healing, to be restored, to overcome our addiction and for Him to give us direction, letting Him guide our each and every step. . . in good times and in bad.

There is nothing wrong with having faith, against all odds, in fact, I believe He rewards our heart's desires when we do and when we seek Him, but what matters more than anything is intimacy with the Lord. It's about knowing Him more, getting closer to Him and listening to what He speaks to us.

The valley, at our loneliest, most broken and uncertain place, is where we are put through the Refiner's fire (Zech. 13:9) like silver and gold. The process is painful, but it not fruitless. In the valley, in the furnace, God is at work. Look at His assurance found in Isaiah 48:10. "Behold, I have refined you . . . I have tried you in the furnace of affliction."

So be thankful. I know it's not easy. I know it's not fun, but in the end it will be worth it! After all, He told us it was so.

Psalm 66:10-12

"For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried. You brought us into the net; you laid a crushing burden on our backs; you let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a place of ABUNDANCE."