Psalm 23:4

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.

We read this verse in relationship to death and the journey we take when our time arrives.  We gain comfort to know that God will be there with us. 


But when I read it this time I saw it in a different light, with a new meaning. Why do we only look at this verse at a time of death? Why not take comfort from it in our daily lives?  


The Life Application Bible had a note that the verse could also read "through the darkest valley." Our darkest time is not always death. We go through times of highs (mountains) and lows (valleys) in our lives. Those valleys are not always a physical death. It could be pain, sickness, injury, conflict, etc. 


I have a reoccurring valley in my life. I am one who copes with migraines. They are the most excruciatingly painful things that I have experienced. I have prayed in the middle of them that God would either take away the pain or take me home to be with Him. It gives me great comfort to know that God is there with me at these dark time. I know that I am not alone when that debilitating pain is there. God is there when no one else can help me. 


Strength and comfort cannot overcome the valley of pain, sickness, injury or conflict, but just as God is there to get us through the valley of the shadow of death, He is there to get us through the other valleys too. Take comfort that you are not alone. Take comfort that God is there to defend you with His rod and to keep you from danger with His staff.

Psalm 23:2-3

Psalm 23:1 tells us that if we depend on God then we will not want. What more could we ask for? God does not leave us there. He offers even more in verses 2-3. He says "He will make me lie down in green pastures, he leads me besides still waters." When I hear green pastures and still waters I get a tranquil picture in my mind. I see myself stretched out in that green pasture next to the still waters. I hear the birds singing, I feel the gentle breeze blowing. I feel the weight of the world left off my shoulders. I fell renewed and refreshed.


God does not say He will put you in a car in rush hour traffic or chaos. He takes us to a calm and tranquil place. He offers restoration to our souls. That sounds great but what does it mean? To restore means to replace, to renew or revive, to return. How wonderful to know that when I am beaten down, torn apart by the world, God will replace, renew or return me to how He created me. He doesn't just leave me in the state I am in.


God offers this to all. All you have to do is accept Him as your Shepherd too.