Tuesday, August 2, 2022

Listen to the Word
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4)

Psalm 23:4 is mostly outstanding news, but it starts with bad news: We are going to experience trouble. We will have to endure hard times. The psalm paints a picture of a place that would be a great location for an ambush or a rockslide in an old Western movie - the valley of the shadow of death. And it doesn’t say IF I walk through the valley. It says THOUGH I walk through the valley. No ifs about it. Trouble is guaranteed.

The good news is that when we enter those inevitable dark valleys, we don’t go in alone. God is with us, so we don’t have to be afraid. And he doesn’t leave us there. God doesn’t just walk with us INTO the valley, but THROUGH the valley. You can look forward to walking out with him on the other side.

Live the Word
Are you in a dark valley right now? Thank God for the promise that he is with you, and ask him to give you confidence that you will make it through.