Remember God is Present

David said, “Yea, 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)

David was able to walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death because God was with him.

God not only promises us His power in the valleys but His presence as well. When we know God as our Good Shepherd, we’ll never walk alone through the valleys of life. He’ll be with us. Through the prophet Isaiah God said,

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.” (Isaiah 43:2)

No matter what problems we might face, God will be with us every step of the way. Therefore we have nothing to fear because God is near.

There’s something else we need to notice. There’s a change of language. Verses two and three David uses the 3rd person when referencing God.

“He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness.” (Psalm 23:2-3)

But in verses four and five when David gets to the valley of the shadow of death, David changes to 2nd person.

“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 anoint my head with oil.” (Psalm 23:4-5)

What does this mean?

It’s in the valleys of life we come face to face with God. In the valleys we don’t want to talk about God, we want to talk to God. This is where religion changes into relationship. It’s when we’re in the valleys that God becomes real and says, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)