“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 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.” Psalm 23:1-4
The other day as I was hiking South Fork Valley, I kept reciting Psalm 23 over and over. You see, it’s a psalm of confidence, a confidence in God’s goodness. That God is good now and God will be good later. It speaks comfort into the most uncomfortable situations we can find ourselves. It provides us with confidence in God’s goodness even when everything else around us seems to be in a wreck.
It’s a psalm designed for the parents whose kid is in rebellion.
It’s a psalm for the soldier who comes back from war dealing with PTSD.
It’s a psalm designed for the couple who month after month are praying and hoping that the pregnancy test will be positive.
It’s a psalm for the spouse who so desperately wants their marriage to be thriving and healthy.
It’s a psalm for the person who feels abandoned by God.
It’s a psalm for you and I.
Life comes with a lot of valleys. You are always going to find yourself either coming out of a valley, in the midst of a valley, or about to go in a valley. That’s just the way life works.
I find myself wondering a lot, why do we have to go through the valley? Wouldn’t it be a much better life on top of the mountain? That sounds like a better place to live. The air is clear and cold. Simply breathing is exhilarating. Everything is crisp; it’s all fresh, new and exciting. You can see for miles and miles.
While living in Alaska and hiking both the valleys and the mountain tops, I have learned life is not sustained on the mountain top. It’s actually quite hard to live on top of a mountain. The mountain peak might provide a panoramic, stunning view, but life is not sustained on the summit. Life blooms in the valley, and I’ve realized God does some of His greatest work in the valleys of life.
Throughout history, mountains have always invoked a sense of awe, honor, and even mystery in humankind. In every religion, mountains are places of revelation and worship – whether from God of the Bible, the gods, Mother Earth, or one’s inner self. Looking back at Israel’s history (God’s chosen nation) many moments of significance happened on the heights of literal mountains: Mount Ararat where Noah’s ark landed, Mount Moriah where Abraham offered Issac, and Mount Sinai where God revealed Himself to Moses.
When we look at the life of Jesus there is one significant mountain top experience that stands out. Jesus is on a mountain with Peter, James, and John, His most trusted friends, and He is transfigured before them. His appearance changes, his clothes become shining white and He talks with Moses and Elijah, who symbolize the Law and the Prophets. Jesus was momentarily transformed from his human form to his pre-incarnate divine form. Like most of us, Peter wanted to stay and set up camp but Jesus made it clear that they need to go down the mountain. Down to where Jesus would be arrested, where Peter would reject Him, where Jesus would be crucified, and where Peter would return to his previous life as a fisherman before Jesus rose from the grave and reveal himself. This mountain top experience remained with him as a source of assurance, up until his own crucifixion. The contrast between the mountaintop and the valley was enormous.
In order to experience and know God more fully on the mountain top, we have to go through the valley first. Valleys, not just vistas, are places where we see God. The real nourishment, real sustainability, happens in amidst the valley. Herein lies a paradox at the heart of Christianity. Mountaintop experiences help us chart our course, but deep valley experiences help us know God and ourselves most profoundly. When we are broken, helpless, in dark and low places, we come to see in a different way. In the humid, dense, sweltering air, where just breathing seems like so much work. Where you can’t see very far, barely to the next mountain. The confusion and the noise can force us off the path, so we have to follow it from memory, from faith, because we can’t see the end.
It’s in the valley that we see the Good Shepherd cares.
provides.
protects.
does some of his greatest work.
will never leave you.
While walking through my own valley, I reflect on this passage and think, “even though, I walk through the valley of the shadow of death … your rod and your staff, they comfort me”, how does that change the path I’m walking?
I dive deeper into God’s Word, so I am reminded what He says about me. I choose to listen to the truth instead of lies. I build my foundation on God’s Word. I declare with every bone in my being: No matter what I see, I choose faith. No matter what I feel, I choose faith. Even in my doubt, I will lift my hands. I don’t see a way, but with God, there is always a way. I am aching but in my heart, I choose to trust God. I don’t see what I want to see but because of the faithfulness of God, I will choose to walk by faith. I don’t understand this but I believe everything in me my God is still good.
Walking through this valley will make the mountain top all the sweeter. On the mountain top, we praise Him for what He has done, but in the valley, we simply get to praise Him for who He is.
xx katie
The Fox Adventure 