The Valley That Seems to Have No End
"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death~or the darkest valley~I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod (protection) and Your staff (guidance), they comfort me. You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil (healing), my cup overflows (blessings). Surely goodness and mercy (God's grace) will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever (Psalm 23:4-6)."
My friend, I don't know what you are going through right now. You may be in one of the darkest times of your life. It may seem as though this "valley" you are in will never end. There may be times that you just want to give up.This is exactly what the enemy would like for you to do, but don't listen to the lies He whispers. God has promised that He is with you-at all times-the good and the bad, and because God is not a man that He should lie (Numbers 23:19), you can rest in every one of His promises. God is always true to His word.
So what about this valley of the shadow of death that seems to never end? One thing I want you to remember is this: if there is a shadow, there must also be light; And that light is Jesus. It is because of Jesus, we do not have to give in to our fears, but we can confidently and consistently rely upon the word God has already spoken. His promises are sure and His grace is sufficient. This grace God gives is sufficient when we suffer loss, experience sickness, death of a loved one, pain and heartache. I don't have the answer to "why" you are going through this difficult season, however I do know the One who can calm and comfort your heart in the midst of the most difficult situations. He will cover you with His feathers, and give you refuge under His wings (Psalm 91:4)
No matter what things look like, God is on His throne and He is in control. Look at the life of Job. He was a man of God yet suffered immensely. He lost his children, his friends turned their backs on him, he lost his possessions and his health deteriorated. In the midst of his suffering though he never turned away from God. A critical thing to remember about Job was that He never lost his hope; the hope he had in his Lord. "Though He slay me, yet I will hope in Him; I will surely defend my ways to His face. Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance (Job 13:15-16)." In spite of all the heartache and loss, Job remained faithful. He had no idea how he was going to be delivered, but He trusted God and took Him at His word. He did not focus on his painful circumstances, but focused on the One who held him and everything together. Job was confident that God would somehow work it out. And that He did. "The Lord blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the first (Job 42:12)." Job lived a hundred and forty years and was able to see his children and their children to the fourth generation (Job 42:16).
In your suffering, it is so good to meditate on the character of God. He is good, just, holy, merciful, abounding in love, compassionate, forgiving, true, perfect, faithful, powerful and mighty. This is who God is. His character has nothing to do with your circumstances. He is a good, good Father. And when we remember who God is, we can be assured that He will take what the enemy meant for evil and turn it for our good! He knows what is best for us. Whatever God allows in our life, it is always to make us more like His Son. Think about how much Jesus suffered while on the earth. He faced all of the same testings we do, yet He never sinned (Hebrews 4:15). Therefore, He can sympathize with every thing you and I face because He walked the road of suffering. Because of Jesus, you and I can boldly approach the throne of grace with confidence and receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need (Hebrews 4:16).
This trial will not last forever. God will indeed bring you through it. In the meantime, press into Jesus and let Him be your strength. He will give you the grace you need for each day. Know and believe that God is for you and always has your best in mind. He is righteous in all His ways and faithful in all He does (Psalm 145:17). Keep your eyes on Jesus! He is your living hope!
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of the Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith-more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire-may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:3-7)."
My friend, I don't know what you are going through right now. You may be in one of the darkest times of your life. It may seem as though this "valley" you are in will never end. There may be times that you just want to give up.This is exactly what the enemy would like for you to do, but don't listen to the lies He whispers. God has promised that He is with you-at all times-the good and the bad, and because God is not a man that He should lie (Numbers 23:19), you can rest in every one of His promises. God is always true to His word.
So what about this valley of the shadow of death that seems to never end? One thing I want you to remember is this: if there is a shadow, there must also be light; And that light is Jesus. It is because of Jesus, we do not have to give in to our fears, but we can confidently and consistently rely upon the word God has already spoken. His promises are sure and His grace is sufficient. This grace God gives is sufficient when we suffer loss, experience sickness, death of a loved one, pain and heartache. I don't have the answer to "why" you are going through this difficult season, however I do know the One who can calm and comfort your heart in the midst of the most difficult situations. He will cover you with His feathers, and give you refuge under His wings (Psalm 91:4)
No matter what things look like, God is on His throne and He is in control. Look at the life of Job. He was a man of God yet suffered immensely. He lost his children, his friends turned their backs on him, he lost his possessions and his health deteriorated. In the midst of his suffering though he never turned away from God. A critical thing to remember about Job was that He never lost his hope; the hope he had in his Lord. "Though He slay me, yet I will hope in Him; I will surely defend my ways to His face. Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance (Job 13:15-16)." In spite of all the heartache and loss, Job remained faithful. He had no idea how he was going to be delivered, but He trusted God and took Him at His word. He did not focus on his painful circumstances, but focused on the One who held him and everything together. Job was confident that God would somehow work it out. And that He did. "The Lord blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the first (Job 42:12)." Job lived a hundred and forty years and was able to see his children and their children to the fourth generation (Job 42:16).
In your suffering, it is so good to meditate on the character of God. He is good, just, holy, merciful, abounding in love, compassionate, forgiving, true, perfect, faithful, powerful and mighty. This is who God is. His character has nothing to do with your circumstances. He is a good, good Father. And when we remember who God is, we can be assured that He will take what the enemy meant for evil and turn it for our good! He knows what is best for us. Whatever God allows in our life, it is always to make us more like His Son. Think about how much Jesus suffered while on the earth. He faced all of the same testings we do, yet He never sinned (Hebrews 4:15). Therefore, He can sympathize with every thing you and I face because He walked the road of suffering. Because of Jesus, you and I can boldly approach the throne of grace with confidence and receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need (Hebrews 4:16).
This trial will not last forever. God will indeed bring you through it. In the meantime, press into Jesus and let Him be your strength. He will give you the grace you need for each day. Know and believe that God is for you and always has your best in mind. He is righteous in all His ways and faithful in all He does (Psalm 145:17). Keep your eyes on Jesus! He is your living hope!
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of the Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith-more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire-may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:3-7)."
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