Unprecedented Hope
“Navigating Life’s Dark Valleys”
Psalm 23:4
Watch on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=st9GCOYgM4Q
When I consider how to handle stress, I often turn to Psalm 23, the Shepherd’s Psalm, because it addresses many of life’s stressors.
In what might be considered the most recognizable verse of Psalm 23, King David addresses the stress of the prospect of losing his life. And while we’ve looked at this verse over the years, I thought it might be helpful to revisit it, given the various losses many have experienced. And as I’ve been saying throughout this series, I’m not talking about the loss of life alone, but also the loss of finances, relationships, jobs, and even health.
Now, this verse is Psalm 23:4, where King 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 NKJV)
In Israel, there’s actually a valley called “The Shadow of Death.” What I am told is that it’s a steep, dark, and narrow canyon that the sun only reaches when it’s directly overhead. David may very well have led his sheep up this valley.
Now, the Bible often talks about valleys as tough times.
Other valleys mentioned in the Bible are places where battles have been fought, and victories won. The Valley of Elah is one such valley. This is where young David won a great victory for Israel over the Philistines by defeating the giant Goliath (1 Samuel 17:19).
Now, if you were on God’s side of this valley, it would be a valley of victory. But if you were on Goliath’s side, you would go down in flames, or it would be a valley of defeat.
There is also the Valley of Shittim, which is part of the larger Jordan Valley. It was in this valley that the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were located, and God brought judgment against them because of their sins. Once this valley was green and fertile, but now it’s nothing but desolation. In fact, the sea located in that valley is dead. That’s why it’s known as the “Dead Sea.”
It’s the same desolation we see whenever the Valley of Hinnom is mentioned. This valley lies outside Jerusalem. In this valley, Israel greatly sinned by sacrificing their children to the Canaanite god Molech. As a consequence, the Lord calls it a place of slaughter and a place of ashes and bodies (Jeremiah 7:31; 31:40).
During the days of Jesus, the Valley of Hinnom was the city’s garbage dump, where fires continually burned, and it was synonymous with hell, a place of decay and burning.
And even today, valleys are not well thought of. We talk about being in despair, discouraged, and depressed as being in a valley. When we’re not doing well, we say we’re in a valley. But our valleys don’t have to be places of despair.
To rightly handle our times in these valleys, we need to understand certain aspects of the valleys we encounter in life.
Valleys Are Inevitable
Valley experiences will happen, so we might as well count on them.
Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33b NKJV)
Underline the word “will.” It’s not a matter of “if,” but “when” a valley will happen. We’re all going to experience difficulties, disappointments, and discouragement; suffering, sorrow, and sickness; along with frustration, failure, and fatigue. These are all a normal part of life, so they shouldn’t surprise us.
Valleys Are Unpredictable
We can never plan for or schedule valleys. Valleys are always unexpected and tend to come at the worst time imaginable. Think about it. There’s never a good time to have a flat tire or for the car to break down. There’s never a good time to lose your job, your health, or a loved one.
Have you ever noticed how quickly a good day can turn into a bad day?
The prophet Jeremiah said, “Destruction upon destruction is cried, for the whole land is plundered. Suddenly my tents are plundered, and my curtains in a moment.” (Jeremiah 4:20 NKJV)
Jeremiah is saying that since valleys happen in an instant, we need to be prepared to be unprepared.
Valleys Are Impartial
No one is immune to valleys. No one is insulated from pain and sorrow. No one gets a “Get out of the valley” free card. Everyone has problems, both good and bad people. In other words, valleys are impartial.
Jesus said, “He (GOD) makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matthew 5:45b NKJV)
When we go through these valleys, our first reaction is always, “Why me?” Yet it should really be “Why not me?” No one is exempt from problems. Everyone goes through them.
Valleys Are Temporary
Valleys do have an end. They don’t last forever. They’re not a permanent state. David said, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.”
Key in on that word “through.” Valleys are what we go through, not where we permanently camp out. Valleys are not dead ends; rather, they’re tunnels with light on the other side. And for all the pessimists out there, the light at the end of the valley isn’t an oncoming train.
In 1 Peter 1:6, the Apostle Peter said, “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials.” (1 Peter 1:6 NKJV)
Notice that Peter admits we’re going to go through various trials, but they won’t last, so we can rejoice. When Jesus said that in this world we will have trials, He then goes on to say to be cheerful because He has overcome the world.
Even though life has its tough times, there’s always joy ahead for those who are in Christ. And the greatest joy of all is heaven once this life is over, because in heaven there will be no more sorrow, pain, or tears.
Valleys Are Purposeful
God has a reason for leading us through the valleys.
Peter goes on to say, “These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure.” (1 Peter 1:7 NLT)
There are all kinds of valleys we face: financial, relational, and emotional valleys, as well as the general valleys that come with life. But Peter tells us these valleys have a purpose: to test our faith.
Mountaintops are great, but faith, the kind of faith we need to live by, is built in the valleys. It is in the valleys that our faith is strengthened. It was through my valley of losing everything, including my family, that my faith actually increased, becoming my number one gift.
Every problem has a purpose, even the small ones; they’re all about building our character and making us more like the image of Jesus Christ.
So what does David encourage us to do as we find ourselves in these dark valleys?
“I will fear no evil”
David put his faith in God and walked through the valley of the shadow of death.
We need to refuse to be discouraged and walk through these valleys. We can’t go around them. We can’t go under them, nor can we go over them. We can only go through them.
But how can we not be discouraged? Well, it’s by focusing on God’s power rather than our problems. Two people in identical situations will generally react differently depending on what they focus on.
When we focus on our circumstances, they will rule our lives. Instead, we need to focus on Jesus Christ. Don’t focus on the situation; instead, focus on the Savior. Don’t focus on the problems. Instead, focus on God’s power over the problems.
“For You are with me.”
God not only promises us His power in the valleys but also His presence. When we know God as our Good Shepherd, we’ll never walk through these valleys alone. He’ll be with us.
Through the prophet Isaiah, the Lord 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 NKJV)
No matter what problems we might face, God says He’ll see us through. He’ll be with us every step of the way. When God is near, there’s nothing to fear.
There’s something else I would like all of us to notice in Psalm 23, and that is the change in language. In verses two and three, 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 for His name’s sake.”
But in verses four and five, when David reaches the valley of death, he changes his reference to God to the second person, that is, it changes from “He” to “You” when referring to God
“You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil.”
When we’re in the valleys of life, 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 NKJV)
“Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me”
The rod and staff were the two basic tools used by the shepherd to protect and guide the sheep. The rod was about two feet long, with a large knot on one end. The shepherd would use it to keep predators at bay and protect the sheep.
The staff was a long stick with a crook at one end. The shepherd would use the staff to guide and comfort the sheep. He would use it to draw the sheep to him or lift them up when they’d fallen into a pit.
When we go through the valleys of life, the Lord doesn’t sit in heaven saying, “I hope they get through.” God isn’t apathetic to our situation but will guide and protect us.
So God’s power, presence, protection, and guidance are ours as we walk through the valleys.
Conclusion
There’s one last thing I’d like to focus on, and that is David’s reference to this place as The Valley of the Shadow of Death. This reveals that it isn’t the valleys that scare us; rather, it’s the shadows. Now, there are several things to understand about shadows.
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (John 8:12 NKJV)
Corrie Ten Boom said, “If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed. If you look within, you’ll be depressed. If you look at God, you’ll be at rest.”
Jesus said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28 NKJV)
And so, when we find ourselves in these dark valleys of life, we need to understand that God has a purpose, but one not to harm us, but to give us both a future and a hope, or we could say, “A future hope.”
Second, that God doesn’t want us to camp out in our despair, but to move through it and into all that He has in store for us.
We also need to remember that He is right there by our side, guiding us through the valley and protecting us along the way.
And finally, we need to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus Christ and the salvation He provides. We need to turn away from the darkness, that is, the adverse situations and circumstances, and focus on the light of Jesus that shows us the way.
