Day 396 - The Valley "Through"

Psalm 23

New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 23

A psalm of David. ¹ The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
² He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
³ he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
⁴ Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,^[a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
⁵ You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
⁶ Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

My pastor has been doing a series on going through Valleys.  I could identify well.  I've gone through a valley the last few months.  Some days are like that.  But today, the sun was shining, and I could actually feel it.  And today, in church, I heard Psalm 23 again, just like I did when the journey into the Valley first started, even though I didn't know that was what was happening at the time.  It was one of what I call "God moments" - when you know God is speaking directly to it.  And finally, I could hear His Voice again.

Now, I know God didn't leave me during the Dark Valley.  I know that.  But, I couldn't feel the sunlight of the Spirit during those dark days.  But I tried, oh how I tried, to just keep doing what I was supposed to do.  "Keep functioning," God told the Israelites during their exile into Babylon.  I wonder if they felt like I did, like they were going through the dark times, even though God had promised them He would recover them.

Even though that scripture doesn't say "To Jennifer" at the beginning, I took it as mine.  "'For I know the plans I have for you,' says the Lord.  'Plans to prosper you, to give you a hope and a future....When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back."  Okay, I was hoping the seventy years part wasn't directed at me, but the rest of it, I took straight to heart.

And another thing my pastor said this morning - that "I will not fear" part.  He said it's been translated poorly.  What it really means is that when I fear, I will see signs of His Presence - his rod and his staff - and I will be reminded that He is with me, and I will choose to not focus on my fear.  That, I can do.

Even though there were days I couldn't see the signs of His Presence very clearly, today I can.  And I'm so grateful.  Grateful to have been brought through the Dark Valley.  Grateful to have not lost all hope.  Grateful that He carried me when I could no longer walk.

Will dark days come again?  To be sure.  Will I walk through those too?  You bet.  And now I have complete assurance that I will make it through just fine.

I love my God.  And He loves me.  The Lord is my Shepherd, and I lack nothing.

Sincerely,
Jennifer