In the Valley

"The supreme test of goodness is not in the greater but in the smaller incidents of our character and practice; not what we are when standing in the searchlight of public scrutiny, but when we reach the firelight flicker of our homes; not what we are when some clarion-call rings through the air, summoning us to fight for life and liberty, but our attitude when we are called to sentry-duty in the grey morning, when the watch-fire is burning low. It is impossible to be our best at the supreme moment if character is corroded and eaten into by daily inconsistency, unfaithfulness, and besetting sin."

Frederick Brotherton ( F. B. ) Meyer

In the Valley

Psalm 23

"The LORD is my shepherd,

I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside quiet waters.

He restores my soul;

He guides me in the paths of righteousness

For His name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I fear no evil, for You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

You have anointed my head with oil;

My cup overflows.

Surely goodness and loving-kindness will follow me all the days of my life,

And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever."
Psalm 23:1-6 NASB (my emphasis bold)

I think Psalm 23 is one of the most misused portions of Scripture.
It is a Psalm of life, not of death, -

and yet is probably the most frequently used Psalms at funeral services for believers.
The fourth verse of the Psalm “though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death” is often referred to as a “dark valley.”
It says "the valley of the shadow of death."

There are no shadows in dark places.

If you shut yourself in a closet and allow no light to sneak in under the door

you will find this to be true.
The fact that there is a shadow demonstrates that there is light in the valley.

All that death can do is try to throw a shadow over the place.

Shadows never hurt anyone.

When you are walking in the shadows of life’s circumstances

remember the source of the light in the valley is the Lord Himself.

He is there walking with you to bring you back in the fullness of His radiance.

We have nothing to fear in the valley of the shadow of death.

Let's walk together in the light!

"but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light,

we have fellowship with one another,

and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin."

1 John 1:7 NASB

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