Posted: 20 February 2023

From a sermon given on 19 February 2023:

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.
(Psalm 23:4)

In the Bible, a valley is a low point in life. It could be relational, financial, spiritual etc. Sometimes its so low you can't tell others how low it is. You may have just come out of one, or you are deep in it or the process of crawling out of it. Nobody is exempted from it.

The Psalmist declares that although he walks through "the valley of the shadow of death; the darkest valley," "the deepest darkness, a Ravine as dark as death, a valley of deepest darkness” he was not going to fear any evil because God will always be with him. "The Shepherd's rod and staff - his instruments of care and protection - will always be there to comfort him."

Christian friends, the Faithful ones face trials with confidence because God is with them. We don't lounge in the valley ; we walk through the valley. Although problems will come , We will never face them alone! For Christ Himself has said, "... I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." (Hebrews 13:5)

Further readings:

And the Lord said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers; and this people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land, whither they go to be among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them.
(Deuteronomy 31:16)

There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
(Joshua 1:5)

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
(Hebrews 13:5)