in the valley - Reese White

In the Valley

This idea of the valley has been on my mind a lot and I've been stuck in Psalm 23. Growing up, reciting verses from this psalm time and time again, I didn’t realize how much was filled in between each and every word. Little did I know that this was the only verse that would keep me going. The last three years I've been deep in the valley. Dealing with abuse, trauma, broken friendships, spiritual warfare, healing, I had hit my lowest. As hard as it was, this psalm was my hope. 

God is intentional.

This is our hope for today, not just back then. Psalm 22 is written in past tense, Psalm 24 is written in the future tense (talking about Heaven), and right in the middle of the two is Psalm 23 written in present tense. His word is alive and living. What a picture of grace. 

The cross and crown are before us and behind us and in our midst is the shepherd. Psalm 23 begins with “The Lord” and ends with “forever.” Alpha and Omega, this is who He is.    

“The Lord is my shepherd; I have what I need. He lets me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters. He renews my life; he leads me along the right paths for his name’s sake.” Psalm 23:1-3

The Lord IS your shepherd.

Right now, in your darkness and in your light He IS your shepherd. No matter your circumstance, no matter your feelings, no matter what anyone says the Lord is leading you and guiding you to the green pastures. He leads us to life and leads us to peace. 

“Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4

I'm sure this valley is something you are familiar with. I know I’ve been in it more than once.

Do you feel stuck in the valley?

Scared to walk through it?

Fearful of what's on the other side?

I stayed in the valley for so long because it was comfortable. It almost felt safe in a sense because that was all I had known for so long. But friends, we cannot camp out in the valley.

We have to move forward to the promise and the calling we have.

There is vegetation in the valley and it is a place of growth and depth but this growth we get in the valley is what gives us the strength to climb the mountain.

I met God for the first time when I was in the valley and I was scared that when I went on the mountain, God wouldn't meet me there. I thought He could only meet me when I was broken, so I decided to stay in my hurt. But it wasn't until I made the journey out of the valley that I saw He was still there with me on the mountain too. Who are we to limit our God? He is not just a God that is present in the valley, but He is omnipresent, valley and mountain, highs and lows, He’s there. 

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” Psalm 23:5

What an image. You may have felt this before you may feel it right now, but so often the world around us and the darkness seems to surround us and engulf everything around us.

Why would God put our table in the middle of the chaos?

The presence of my enemies? But with our eyes locked on the King all we see is Him. You may be scared or stressed reading this verse, but why are we to fear?

God is SITTING down with us.

In biblical times a king would sit as a symbol of victory. My God is sitting down with me, He’s not stressing so why should I?

The enemy may circle around your table but he will not prosper.

How many seats are at your table?

Are you giving depression a seat?

Does anxiety have a seat?

Does your trauma and abuse have a seat?

Is the enemy sitting at your table?

I pray you reach the point of only having two seats, you and Jesus, that my friend is where true peace and life is found. Louie Giglio gives an amazing book and devotion to study this table and who's sitting at it. I encourage you to read “Don't Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table” to really dive into this verse and what it means. 

“Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord as long as I live.” Psalm 23:6

All the days of your life. May you walk with confidence in who this God is.

Don't be afraid to go into the valley and don't be afraid to go out. God is not going to leave you. He is a God of comfort, a God of peace, a protector. Even when it feels like the people who hurt you and your pain is greater and winning, you have a King sitting victoriously with a seat pulled up for you. May you walk with the boldness and courage to hold his hand in the valley but be willing to climb with Him on the mountain. He is greater than your pain.

So friends, let’s step out of what's comfortable, let’s not sit in the valley, let’s go through the valley but not stay in it. Keep going, you are not alone,

Love,

Reese White