Today’s Devotional: “God’s Presence for Us”

God is personally present in the valleys.

David said, “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)

David could walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death because God was with him.

When we know God as our Good Shepherd, we’ll never walk alone through life’s valleys. He’ll be with us every step of the way.

Through the prophet Isaiah, God said, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.” (Isaiah 43:2)

No matter what problems we might face, God will be with us every step of the way. Therefore, we have nothing to fear, for God is near.

We need to notice something else. The language in Psalm 23 changes. In verses 2 and 3, David uses the third person when referring to God

“He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness.” (Psalm 23:2-3)

But in verses four and five, when David reaches the valley of the shadow of death, he shifts to 2nd person.

“You are with me; Your rod and Your staff comfort me; You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil.” (Psalm 23:4-5)

What does this mean?

In life’s valleys, we come face to face with God. In the valleys, we don’t want to talk about God; we want to talk to God. This is where religion becomes a relationship. It’s when we’re in the valleys that God becomes real and says, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)