Devotionals

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In the Valley of Deep Darkness

Psalm 23:1-4 “1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me…”

Early in the year flocks of sheep would graze in the luscious lowlands of green grass and cool still waters. When the summer months came and the warm sun melted the snow off of the mountaintops, it was then that the shepherd led his flocks to higher ground for more pastureland. But, in order to get from the lowlands to the highlands they had to travel through the deep dark ravines surrounded by sheer cliffs, where the night was filled with penetrating darkness, and trees blocked the sunlight so much so that you couldn’t see a new day dawn. It was as if they were stumbling around blind. These valleys were full of many different predators lurking, fearlessly ravenous in search of their prey. However, it was necessary for the shepherd to lead his sheep through these valleys, as there was no other way.
At some point in our Christian walk we will have to go through this place. A place of fear, depression, doubt, severe oppression and temptation. Though at times we begin to feel completely alone we have to remember that we were led here by our Shepherd for a greater purpose. He wouldn’t have brought us here for no reason. We know that because He must go through it with us, leading the way! And while we are blinded by the darkness, we must remember that we walk by faith and not sight; He is there with us even though we can’t see him. The only sure way to know that He is there is to run ahead toward His voice, nuzzle up to Him and walk as close to Him as we can. Though we might be momentarily blind, our senses are heightened and we can hear His very heartbeat piercing through the darkness. We might be tempted to turn back, but to turn back is to fall off of the ledge into even deeper darkness. The Shepherd prays that when His sheep fall, they will land in a thicket on the cliffs edge and not down into their death. When we fall, He lets us stay for a short time, crying in desperation for deliverance until we are too weak to struggle anymore. Then He uses His staff to pull us up to His arms of safety, but He has to break our leg. He wraps up our wound, puts us upon His strong shoulders, and carries us until our broken bone is healed stronger than before. There is no easy way in the valley. The only way out is to pursue onward with our Shepherd through the darkness into a life of abundance, or to turn back, falling into the carpet that the enemy has laid at the bottom of the ravine; falling unto our death. Set before us, we have a choice. Will we choose life or will we choose death? Choosing life means to come out stronger, more experienced and closer to our Shepherd than ever before. Be assured dear one, we will see the light again whether it be beams of sunlight peeking through at the end of the valley or the very Glory of God’s face shining on us at the beginning of eternity. Either way, choosing life means that we just can’t lose and we will forever be victorious.

C.M.K. - 6/13/06

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