House of David, Season 2: Trusting God in the Middle of the StorySample

The Valley Is Not the End

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.”

We’d prefer the Shepherd to only lead us to pastures, but valleys are part of the journey. David doesn’t say, “If I walk through the valley,” but “Even though I walk through…” Valleys aren’t optional. They are inevitable.

But notice: the valley is a shadow, and the valley is a passage. Shadows loom large but cannot harm. And valleys are walked through—not camped in forever. The Shepherd doesn’t abandon you at the canyon’s edge; He walks with you inside it.

David’s courage doesn’t come from wishful thinking. It comes from presence. Safety is not the absence of danger, but the nearness of God.

Reflection Question: Where might you be mistaking a valley for a dead end instead of a passage with God?