In the valleys, if we are to quote from Psalm 23 verse 4:

“Even when I go through the darkest valley”

We might tend to stop there and have a pity party or think it is too hard. But it is in the valleys where you can find some of the greatest contentment. Lets read the rest of Psalm 23 verse 4:

“I fear no danger, for You are with me: Your rod and Your Staff — they comfort me.”

A lot of people enjoy the will of God when they are in church, when God is answering their prayers, or when they are fellow-shipping with other Christians.

But we are all called to walk an individual walk with Our Lord and Our Friend, and maybe sometimes Our Lord will lead us some places we really don’t want to go.

How much then do we value Jeremiah 29 verse 11:

“‘For I know the plans I have for you’–this is the Lord’s declaration–‘plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

A lot of people might be saying at this point in time, well that means no valleys for me. Lets look at Psalm 23 again verses 3 and 4:

V3 ” He renews my life: He leads me along the right paths for His name sake”.V4 “Even when i go through the darkest valley, I FEAR NO DANGER, for you are with me: Your rod and Your staff–they comfort me.”

This makes things interesting, “He renews my life” best way to renew your life is to let you have every type of life experience, because unless He does how do we know His Fulness Of Joy.

We can’t get real fulness of Joy in just the good times, we also need to find fulness of Joy in the dark times as well.

I am writing this from one of those times at the moment, so I am not just preaching it. The word to take hold of is “THROUGH”

Let me finish with The Message Bible translation on this.

Psalm 23 verse 4: “Even when the way goes through Death Valley. I’m not afraid when You walk at my side. Your trusty Shepherd’s crook makes me feel secure.”

God Bless.

O F J.