What if we knew God had valley promises just waiting for us to claim and cling to? 

Because sometimes we travel on a journey we never chose. A valley experience. And we never made reservations, packed our bags, or headed off in that direction. 

Besides, my heart’s GPS is wired to stay on the mountain top. Isn’t that what we secretly or openly wish the Christian life promised? 

Still, we often forget God’s glory and presence dwells wherever we are, and in whatever we go through. Further, the Bible says we will have trouble in this world, valleys to walk through. It’s not “if” but “when.”

Perhaps, you relate to valleys of emotional suffering, physical pain, heartbreak, tragedy, grief, spiritual warfare, or other.

During one of my valley experiences, the Lord revealed a comforting message of truth for any and all valleys. 

And it comes from two phrases and two passages in the Bible. These are valley promises.

(1.) Even though. Psalm 23.

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4 (ESV)

David, a shepherd, led, rescued, and cared for sheep. In Psalm 23, he relates the job description to God’s care of us.

The provision of green pastures and still waters showcases the Lord’s goodness (verse 2). Restoring souls and leading in righteousness spotlight the Shepherd’s mercy (verse 3). So, we won’t lack anything on the spiritual journey, including in the valleys (verse 1).

But David mentions less-than-pleasant moments and hard days. The valley of the shadow of death, evil, and the presence of enemies. Since we live in a fallen world, there’s no guarantee of valley-free living.

Yet, the Lord guarantees He is with me “even though” I find myself in the valley (verse 4). And He’s with you.

Since we live in a fallen world, there’s no guarantee of valley-free living. Yet, the Lord guarantees He is with us 'even though' we find ourselves in the valley. #PROMISE
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Maybe you are walking in a present “even though.” Keep walking forward knowing green pastures and still waters await you on the other side. 

Even though we walk through the valley, God’s with us and comforts us. Although my path seems uncertain, God’s goodness and mercy still follow me with certainty.

Because verse 6 promises goodness and mercy follow us all the days of our lives, that means they follow us into the valley. Throughout the valley, we look behind us and see their footprints. 

Although my path seems uncertain, God’s goodness and mercy still follow me with certainty. Throughout the valley, I look behind me and see their footprints. #PROMISE
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(2.) God Himself. 1 Peter 5.

“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen and establish you.” 1 Peter 5:10 (ESV)

So chapter 5 is talking to those who shepherd the flock of God; pastors, ministers, and elders (another shepherd theme). 

Also, this passage reminds us the enemy prowls around looking for someone to devour, and all kinds of suffering experienced by Christians throughout the world (verses 8-9). 

During “even though” situations, we must constantly remind our heart to remember the enemy’s plan against us and place our heart and thoughts on God. 

But when we’re in the middle of our “even though” (our valley, our suffering, our trial, and the enemy trying to devour us) look again at what 1 Peter 5:10 says. 

God Himself does four things:

• Restore- “Return (someone or something) to a former condition, place, or position” (Google).
• Confirm- “Establish the truth or correctness of something” (Google). “Strengthening of the mind, purpose, and conviction” (Blue Letter Bible).
• Strengthen- “Make to become stronger” (Google). “Give ability, power, might” (Vine’s Expository Dictionary).
• Establish- “To make firm or stable. To put into a favorable position” (Merriam-Webster). “Fixed, stayed upon” (Vine’s).

Valley Promises: Even Though, God Himself.

And we need all those things in our even-though-valley.

Here’s my problem. Karen herself tries to fix it, not God Himself. I try to do each of these four things: fix it, bring out the truth/correct it, make myself stronger, or make myself stable. But I can’t do any of these things, not like God.

Think about it this way, if we could fix ourselves, restore ourselves, fix our “even though,” we wouldn’t ever need God! All those things only come from Him and through Him.

My next problem is timing (impatience), or God not fixing it my way (you didn’t realize I have so many problems). 

Yet, I have a heart problem when I run to anything or anyone (myself included) besides the Lord, when I’m in the valley or on the mountain top.

Valley Promises

Even though we walk in the valley, God Himself will restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish us.

Let’s trust God to see us through from the valley’s entrance—even if we’re just crawling—until we’re dancing out the exit.

Are you currently in a valley, an “even though” experience? How do these promises bring you comfort and peace?

Also see, Trusting God Without Hesitation.

Featured image courtesy of Adobe.

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I spent the summer after my college freshmen year in ministry at Virginia Beach, Virginia with CRU (Campus Crusade for Christ). A mission at the beach—somebody had to do it. A young, crisp nineteen-year-old who wanted to make a difference in the world. Pursuing Christ with my whole heart and a passion to make Him known.

College students from across the U.S. and one from England completed training sessions to prepare us for evangelism. We shared the gospel on the boardwalk several nights a week with Saturdays devoted to ministry on the beach, suffering in sand and surf. Crowd-gathering events of volley-ball and slow-motion football provided opportunities to proclaim the message of Jesus Christ.

Instead of raising mission-trip fees, students secured weekday jobs to accommodate living expenses. Four of us (three girls and one guy) became gainfully employed at a McDonald’s close enough to our housing complex to walk to work. We traveled the boulevard during the wee hours of the morning before daybreak.

Deliberately Followed

But one dark morning brought an unexpected turn of events. Our male co-worker overslept and did not accompany us. As the three of us girls walked at breakneck speed, we passed a man loitering in a store-front a few blocks from the restaurant. We had seen him before and he had noticed us.

I never heard his footsteps. Without warning he grabbed me from behind and wrapped his arms around my chest. His chin pressed firmly into my neck as he murmured lewd words—his lips touching my ear.

In a split second, I imagined him dragging me into a nearby alley. God, please help me! I silently prayed.

Then, he released his grip and ran away. The girls with me appeared shell-shocked as they watched his shadow disappear past a streetlight and into the dark. I could not look back.

Frozen, my legs turned to rubber, barely able to carry me the rest of the way to McDonald’s…to safety. Breathless and terrified that he might still be lurking nearby or would come back for me.

Safe inside the doors at work, I called the married couple leading our beach project. After we filed a police report, I spent several hours lying on my bunk—tears streaming—begging the Lord to calm my spirit and thanking Him for protection from further harm.

The perpetrator knew our schedule, our every move. We traveled the same path at the same time each weekday. Three girls walking abandoned city streets without our male companion provided an auspicious moment.

Relentlessly Followed

Years later, I sense I’m relentlessly pursued once again. These two followers will not stop following me. They know the schedule I keep and the path I travel. This is an intentional pursuit from daybreak to nightfall and around the clock. After an investigation and reading the report on file, I’ve identified them:

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Psalm 23:6, ESV).

God has assigned two followers to pursue His children. They know the schedule we keep and the path we travel. An intentional pursuit from daybreak to nightfall and around the clock. @FridayKaren #followed #WednesdayMotivation
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Goodness: Dictionary.com says it’s “the best part of anything.” God is the best part of anything. He’s the best part of life and the best part of me and you.

Goodness relentlessly follows us.

Mercy: translated by the NLT is “unfailing love.” It’s the compassion and kindness of God bringing forgiveness to mankind.

Mercy relentlessly follows us.

“The Lord is my Shepherd: I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1, ESV).

To ensure we will not want for the best part of life, the Great Shepherd has assigned Goodness and Mercy to pursue His sheep—chase after and follow—relentlessly. They stay on the heels of the sheep at all times and watch our every move.

The assignment duration? “All the days of my life.”

To ensure we will not want for the best part of life, the Great Shepherd assigned two followers to pursue His sheep all the days of our life. Psalm 23. @FridayKaren #followed #followers #Wednesdaythoughts
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Goodness and Mercy Follow Us

Goodness and Mercy follow us all the days of our life.

We will never hear goodness and mercy’s footsteps, but we are confident of their presence, wrapping their arms around us and never releasing their grip. And we will never watch their shadows disappear into the dark.

Friend, you are relentlessly followed.

People may follow us online and in life. But God promises to give His children two important #followers who relentlessly pursue us. Join @FridayKaren to discover their identity. Link up is open! Share your blog.
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There are no official records of when King David wrote the most quoted Psalm in Scriptures, but the depth of its metaphorical language suggests the writings of an older, seasoned man. There is a tone of submissive, quiet confidence which suggests a heart that has been tested by many trials and proven the faithfulness of God, time and again. A young man whose life had just begun would not have written with such confidence and assurance of God’s protection in every circumstance.

David had experienced betrayal, loss, persecution, death threats, and the anguish of a guilty soul. He had indeed walked through the valley of the shadow of death and survived, rising yet stronger and wiser on the other side.

A former shepherd, David described God as the ultimate shepherd of man’s soul — a metaphor drawn out of his own experience, no question. He knew that sheep are completely dependent on their shepherd for provision, guidance and protection. He also knew that sheep are stubborn animals and, without the guidance of a shepherd, can easily go astray. Furthermore, he knew that even though sheep usually ignore their shepherd’s presence, a good shepherd never slumbers while watching his sheep.

The words of Psalm 23 danced across my mind as we drove through the Shenandoah Valley this past summer during our family’s vacation. With my camera aimed at the edge of the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachian mountain range, I marveled at the lush green vegetation of the large valley, taking in the sights of one of the most beautiful areas I’ve ever seen while traveling through these United States.

“It’s funny that we refer to our trials as valleys,” I said to my husband. “There is hardly a more beautiful landscape than a valley between mountains.”

Lush. Fertile. Filled with life and water. That is indeed what one finds in a valley. But they are also known for harboring wild beasts and other dangers that lurk about in their shadows and rivers.

When David wrote about his experience in the valley of the shadow of death, however, he did not convey the idea of being overcome by its darkness, dangers and loneliness. On the contrary, this beloved Psalm speaks of conquering the solitude and perils of the valley. It speaks of the fact that we are never alone through life’s dangerous and difficult circumstances. God, the shepherd, is herein portrayed as a conquering Helper, Provider and Friend.

As I looked through my car window into the beauty of the Shenandoah, I thought of the many trials I have faced, and the fact that I too can sing the song that the shepherd king penned down. Indeed, I can testify that each valley I’ve crossed, though difficult to navigate, had unparalleled beauty within. For it was as I crossed these valleys that my soul proved the faithfulness of my God. It was through each hardship that my inadequacies were exposed, my weaknesses surrendered into His almighty hands.

It is as we cross valleys that our soul can prove the faithfulness of our God. It is through each hardship that our inadequacies are exposed, weaknesses surrendered into His almighty hands.
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If you are going through a dark, scary valley today, may King David’s song echo as a reminder that you are not alone. The Shepherd is ever with you, guiding you to the edge of the mountain and step-by-step reading your muscles, so you can climb it to the mountaintop. He will carry you when you are too weak to walk, restore your soul when you are too tired to move forward.

Even though shadows may threaten to hide the beauty within, remember that the valley is fertile with seeds of personal and spiritual growth. Do not let fear overcome you, nor allow the shadows to threaten your peace, thus hiding the fact that the good Shepherd is with you. And He is enough.

Do not let fear overcome you, nor allow the shadows to threaten your peace, thus hiding the fact that the good Shepherd is with you. And He is enough.
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This article was originally published on Patricia’s column for The Atlanta Journal Constitution on Saturday – September 29, 2018.

The post Welcome the Valley {It’s where you will grow} – The Atlanta Journal Constitution appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.