Dark Valleys

Even though I walk through the [sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort and console me. Psalm 23:4 AMP

Even the darkness is not dark to You; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with You. Psalm 139:12 ESV

The LORD my God illumines my darkness. Psalm 18:28 NASB 1995

“Come on Becky, this is no big deal.” I told myself, as I flipped off the light switch. “You just have to walk from the church kitchen, across the gymnasium, and you’ll reach the door on the other side of the room.” But with the lights now off, the windowless gym room carried with it a palatable darkness.  I seemed to lose depth perception, and even lose my sense of balance as I made my way to the other side of the room. Finally reaching the push-bar door handle, I pushed the door open. Instantly, light rays revealed that though I could not feel or sense progress, I had walked the length of the room. I knew my legs were moving. I knew I must be inching closer to my goal, but I had zero awareness of the reality of making any headway.  Such a strange sensation.

No big deal when we’re crossing a gymnasium. Huge deal when it’s a dark trial we’re walking through. Or sunless valley of the shadow of death, as God’s Word describes it. Has a dark trial ever taken away your capacity to sense any forward progress or blinded you to God’s nearness? Have you felt weary and faltering, nearly losing your balance as you attempt to walk in the darkness? In the blackness, did fear seem to speak louder than His promises? I’ve been there. A time or two or ten. Not just in my great gym crossing, but in the darkness of painful trials that eclipsed any semblance of progress or hope. Causing thoughts of  “what-if?” or  “will this ever end?” to shout louder than the promises I quoted.

Some trials feel unending in duration and offer no point of reference for how far we’ve come or how far we still need to go. At times we grope around feeling for anything to steady our balance as we grow weary from the sheer length of a painful journey. While, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, there are no trial-free passes handed out to followers of Jesus Christ. If there were, I would be first in line to ask for the family package. Yet He has assured us of His Presence in the blackness of our trials. Assured that His rod and staff will both protect and guide, as we navigate in the darkness.  It is enough to know that HE can see in the darkness of our trials and will bring us to His desired destination.

Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world.

Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

Father, thank You that I don’t have to fear the darkness of my circumstances. You see what I cannot and are my Source of light even when all appears dark and hopeless. Please enable me to rest and trust in You we walk through this trial together. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus.

Greek: Light: a source of light, radiance. From an obsolete phao; luminousness.