Yea, 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
The valley is this verse represents a low place – a place of difficulty, of struggle, of trials. The Bible has much to say about trials in the Christian’s experience. James chapter 1, 1 Peter chapter 1, and other places describe that the Christian life comes packaged with trials, struggles, and difficulties.
The truth is that sometimes the Shepherd leads us into valleys.
But why? Why does the Good Shepherd lead us through valleys?
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing
James 1:2-4
Answer: because it is the best path for me! He uses trials to make me perfect and complete.
God only leads me where He knows I need to go – He does not waste one single trip!
To really have this make sense and come together, pay close attention to the word shadow. Can a shadow hurt you? Of course not. We know that! But can a shadow frighten you? Come on be honest. How many of us have been scared of a little ol’ shadow before?
The point is that there may the appearance for a moment of something that can seemingly harm us, but ultimately, finally, whatever is happening in the valley cannot really touch us.
Merely shadows.