Lord's Day Devotion - Darkest Valley

 

"Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me..." (Psalm 23:4 NIV).

Even "darkest valleys" have some comfort, for, says the psalmist, God is with him [us].  Darkest valleys can be creepy and scary and so the phrase, "I walk".  Running may be too noisey and attract too much attention.  Or, because we are so frightened it weakens our strength and enfeebles our knees, only allowing us "to walk," barely breathing, heart racing to beat the band, to get through.

The psalmist's comfort was that the LORD his Shepherd was with him in the darkest valley and therefore he feared no evil.  He looked to the Lord for His strength as we can see in Psalm 105:4 (NIV),

"Look to the LORD and His strength; seek His face always."

In our times of stress and distress we can turn to the Lord.  Note, the verse doesn't say, "He got me out of the situation".  He still had to walk through.  However, the Lord, His Shepherd, walked with Him and that made all the difference.

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ had the hugest darkest valley of all times.  And He cried from the cross, 

"My God, My God, why have you forsaken me" (Mark 15:33-34.  See also Matthew 27:46 & Psalm 22:1 and Mark 15:35-39).

The sin load of the "whosoever" was laid upon Him.  He was separated from God His Father in anguish and agonizing "darkest hours".  (That's plural - 'hours'.)  Can you imagine the loneliness and feelings of isolation and even rejection this must have ignited?  

Jesus our Good Shepherd knows very well how it feels to be walking through 'darkest valleys'.  We have the comfort of His presence with us when we belong to Him through having accepted Him as Savior.   

"He will never leave you, never will [He] forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5).

This is His mercy and grace bestowed freely upon each and every believer in Jesus Christ and child of God.  Let us give grateful thanks as we remember His selfless act of salvation.  As we partake of the broken bread - symbol of his body "broken" for us, and of the cup of wine - symbol of His life-blood shed for us, give him our thankful praise.

Be thankful we can lean on Him for strength as we seek His face as we walk through our darkest valleys.

Our God and loving Father, we indeed give you our hearts full of praise and thankfulness for Your act of love in sending Jesus our Good Shepherd who walks through our darkest valleys with us.  Thank You we do not need to fear because He is also with us and we can lean on Him for our strength.  In You we can put our trust.

As we partake of the bread and drink from the cup of wine this Lord's Day, may we remember all You have done for us and show our gratitude by forever holding Your hand all the days of our lives, even in the darkest of valleys of life.

We thank You so much in Jesus' name.

                                             ~ERC  September 2023~

Based on Psalm 23:4; 205:4; Hebrews 13:5 NIV.

Sing, To God Be the Glory, along with (modern version, TheIslandSing.