the greenest grass around

When we walk through the valley of the shadow of death (trials and tribulations), we need to change our perspective to trust God in all circumstances.

This is a hard topic for me. It’s tough to trust when things are not easy. It is so easy to rely on God when you are living your best life, getting that promotion, healthy and thriving, or when your marriage is great. 

It is NOT easy to trust God when he is taking you down a dark ally with no GPS or flashlight to guide you. 

Psalms 23:4 is often quoted in times like this;

​​”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 comfort me.”

When I think about this verse, I picture myself walking through a dark valley or a narrow dark place with danger looming all around. 

In translating ancient Hebrew, the “valley of the shadow of death,” as we know it isn’t quite accurate. The Hebrew word is sal-ma-wet, which means “darkness.” Some translate it as “dark shadow.” Either way, the root word for both versions is the same as it is for death, which is probably why many Bible translations say “shadow of death.” (Steppes of Faith, 2018) 

Looking at this, we can see that the “Valley of the shadow of death” is a literal darkness in our lives. It may not be referring to actual death but truly dark times in our lives; death of a loved one, marriage trouble, finances, job issues, depression, etc. 

Unfortunately, when we go through dark times, it can be easy to blame God and move away from him even though we are praying for him to fix our problems. It’s hard, but we must remember that God is all-knowing. He knew this would happen to us and has prepared us for this. (whether we realize it or not.) 

We must trust God to be the Lord of our life and not just someone we cry to when things go wrong. 

I know this all too well. It has been hard to trust God this past year. I am still hurt, confused, and in pain over losing our son. I do trust God; I know he has a plan. But I will not lie to you. Sometimes I find praying and drawing close to God hard because I am still hurting. 

Looking back at Psalms 23. “I will fear no evil because you are with me.” 

God is with us, working, even when we cannot see. He has already won. We know how the book ends. Trusting God takes dedication and so much faith. We can do this by not giving up. Continue to seek his face and talk to him. 

I cannot even tell you the ridiculous things I have said in my prayers this year. I have been angry, sad, frustrated, pleading, and so many other emotions, but we must remember that Jesus knows. Jesus came and walked this Earth; he felt sorrow, pain, suffering, temptations, and many other trials we face. He understands our needs. 

God still longs for us to call and seek out him. He wants a relationship with us. 

Psalm 23 also reminds us that we have nothing to fear. God is our shepherd; he is guiding us and watching over us. Even if we find ourselves in a valley, he will come to find us, just like in the parable with the 99 sheep. The shepherd went looking for the lost sheep. God will do the same for us. 

Lastly, in Psalm 23:4, “his rod and staff will comfort me.” We know that God is there for us, he loves us, and he will comfort us. It may not be in the way we prayed for, but He is always working. 

Working to change my perspective during times of darkness is one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. Somedays, it is easier, and other days it seems impossible. If you are walking in a dark valley, I hope you will trust God (no matter how hard it is) and feel confident that better days are coming. 

Psalms 23:6  “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”