Have you ever found yourself walking through a circumstance that feels like what Psalm 23 refers to as “the valley of the shadow of death”? A season where the difficulty of your circumstances leaves you disoriented, as if in deep darkness. In the darkness, you begin to doubt if light could ever penetrate through. Even if you haven’t personally felt it, you do not have to look very hard to see the reality that life in a broken world can be dark.
In the middle of Psalm 23, we find this confession, “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” (v. 4). Oh, how comforting it is to read the honest words of Psalmists like David, who admit the bitter truths of life while framing them in the glorious hope of a God who loves and cares for his people. David’s confession about walking through a valley of darkness is not isolated as a hopeless plea, but rather is fused with the hope that the living God is never far off. God has given us an entire book of poetry that offers the framework to rightly relate to a holy God in all kinds of situations. This is especially necessary in those dark valleys.
On October 2, 2024, I experienced my own valley of darkness. I went into my obstetrician’s office for a routine pregnancy check-up. I was told that they could not find a heartbeat in what should have been our 12 week old baby. I was in shock. It couldn’t be true. The pain of knowing my baby’s life had ended was excruciating. There had been a rollercoaster of emotions leading up to that day— emotions of shock, fear, nervousness, excitement, joy, hopeful anticipation—and then it all faded into pain and sadness. It was a sadness I felt deep inside. Sadness that seemed to cover me like a heavy blanket. Yet as I walked through that experience, God’s tender love was never far away. Even under the blanket of sadness, I knew I was not alone. Psalm 23:4 hit home as I recognized the darkness of my circumstances , while also experiencing the comforting presence of the Good Shepherd who lovingly guided and comforted me. The Lord, who is near the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit, was present all around me.
He was present in his people who showed up with food, words of encouragement, and prayers of intercession and healing. He was present in his Word that I let wash over me as I listened to hours of the Bible—often not even hearing or registering the words being spoken. He was present in the beauty of the flowers and thoughtful gifts brought to brighten my day. My God—the God of the Bible, the God who took me out of the dominion of darkness and brought me into the kingdom of His glorious light through the finished work of Christ—was sustaining me with his perfect love. Even though I knew God was present, there were still so many moments of turmoil and doubt.
Throughout the weeks that followed that terrible day, I kept going to the Psalms to find words for my prayers that otherwise would have stayed locked up inside. Prayers like:
Psalm 77:1-4
1 I cry aloud to God,
aloud to God, and he will hear me.
2 In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord;
in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying;
my soul refuses to be comforted.
3 When I remember God, I moan;
when I meditate, my spirit faints. Selah
4 You hold my eyelids open;
I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
It is truly incredible that our God gives us the words to say even when we cannot find them for ourselves; even when the recipient of our lament is God himself. He instructs us how to cry out to Him and invite Him into our pain. He is not offended by our cries of doubt. He is unshakable, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. Out of his perfect love, he helps us remember beyond the present darkness:
Psalm 77:11-14
11 I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
yes, I will remember your wonders of old.
12 I will ponder all your work,
and meditate on your mighty deeds.
13 Your way, O God, is holy.
What god is great like our God?
14 You are the God who works wonders;
you have made known your might among the peoples.
The theme of remembering God’s faithful love is woven throughout every Psalm, including the laments. By remembering his perfect character, how he has kept his promises, and how he saves his undeserving people, we find hope to trust him through the valley. As Psalm 30:5 says,
“For his anger is but for a moment,
and his favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may tarry for the night,
but joy comes with the morning.”
Turning to solid truth like the Psalms keeps us from turning to other fleeting sources that the world offers. Those other sources may feel good in the moment, but don’t give true hope for our life now and for eternity. Binge watching the latest TV series may feel good in the moment because it allows me to escape the difficult reality of my circumstances, but it does not equip me to move forward in my suffering in a way that produces endurance, character, and hope, as Romans 5:3-5 teaches.
God’s invitation to cry out to him is also an invitation to remember and experience his goodness afresh. The Word of God is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. No matter how dark the valley is, his light will always break through!
