Many people know Psalm 23 which begins, "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul..."
What a beautiful picture this paints of us walking with God in lush, fragrant pastures. It is a picture of peace, security and contentment. But then, the very next verse talks about completely different surroundings. In a seemingly abrupt transition, verse four reads, "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." How in the world did we go from green pastures to the valley of the shadow of death in a single verse?
Sometimes life is like that. Unexpected circumstances, tragedy and trials take us from one place in life to another in an instant. But no matter where we are in life, no matter what has happened, God is still there. When we look to Him, we don't have to fear. He always brings peace. He always brings comfort.
Notice that it says, "Though I walk through…" It doesn't say, "Though I enter and stay in the valley of the shadow of death." We have to remember that the dark times don't last. We don't have to live in the valley of the shadow of death; we are just passing through.
Sometimes, when circumstances are so overwhelming, we can begin to feel stuck and limited. If you feel that way today, let this truth sink down into your heart: you are never stuck in the valley. He is leading you to a place of safety and rest. There may be seasons of uncertainty, but that's when trust comes in. There may a season of mourning, but God is near to the brokenhearted. He is near to all who call on His name. Lift your eyes to Him, focus on His goodness, and let faith rise up in your heart again. Know that God is good. He is not the author of confusion but of peace. God is always on a mission of hope, healing and restoration—a mission of love. He's always with you, leading you back to the place of victory.