Green Pastures, Part III

Verse 4a of the 23^rd Psalm states, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me…” This portion of verse four leaves no room for gray areas. It does not say “if I walk through,” but, “even though I walk through.” Life in an imperfect world is a guaranteed recipe for valleys to come our way; abuse, depression, war, angry people, unemployment, anxiety, financial struggle, divorce, illness, racism…I could go on and on. Again, God never promised we would not face these valleys but he did promise that He is with us, so for this reason, I have nothing to fear.

And, in spite of those things we can still fear no evil because He, the almighty God, creator of heaven and earth is with us personally. In 2012, the Lord was preparing me for the biggest battle in my life, the hardest year of my life, which took place in 2013. He specifically told me the words, “do not fear the unknown.”*

I was coming into a season in my life where I was being prepared again and again for a big trial coming up and I must admit that I was fearful of what this was going to mean for my life. What would I lose? What would happen? Would my kids be okay? Would something happen to completely turn my world upside down? In the midst of all of these difficult questions, and because I knew he was preparing me for a very difficult season in life, all I could do was ask God to help me have the strength, courage and fearlessness I would need to make it through whatever was coming.* The same can be said for anyone going through a difficult valley. We all need the shepherd’s help, and he freely offers it to us, even when “we walk through the valley of the shadow of death…”

Including Psalm 23:4, there are 365 times in the Bible where it says “fear not” or “do not fear,” one for every day of the year! Although I did fear what was to come in 2013, I also had confidence knowing that God would be right there with me through it. Looking back, I did go through the “valley of the shadow of death” in 2013. I would not wish what I went through on anyone, even an enemy. However, in the midst of all the loss I faced along with the illness, financial loss and plethora of friends I thought I had before then who decided to scatter when I was facing the lowest valley in my life, God stuck with me.

However, I did not feel his presence the way I normally do nor did he speak as clearly as I am accustomed to hearing him speak, but I believe he was trying to develop my faith to a greater degree. Was I still going to believe he was there with me when I did not feel him or hear from him at all through the hardest points of 2013? It’s one thing to believe in Psalm 23:4 when things are going okay and God is clearly speaking to you, but how about the times when the rug has been pulled out from under you and you cannot feel God around anywhere? What then? Some of us must come to the point in our struggles and say, “either what God’s Word says about His faithfulness is true, or it’s not.” This is not based on feeling, but on truth.

So, if you are facing a period of depression and/or loss as I did in 2013 or other dark valley and feel that life cannot possibly get worse, step out in faith and hold onto the TRUTH (even if you cannot feel it). God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Valleys are temporary, but God’s faithfulness in permanent. TRUTH never changes, no matter how we feel. Emotions and feelings of hopelessness, feeling worthless, and unimportant to anyone are lies from the enemy meant to keep you from believing the truth!

Emotions can change in a matter of moments and can leave you feeling defeated enough to give up. There were two times specifically that I was on the verge of completely giving up on life in 2013, but God intervened in some way to keep me going just one more minute, then one more hour, then one more day and then one more week…until I came out on the other side, stronger than ever before! Thank you Lord, that I have nothing to fear, because even in “the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for (BECAUSE) you are with me!”

*Some content taken from excerpts of Chapter 12 of my book, “Struck Down, But Not Destroyed.” (June 2014, Crossbooks publishing)