Tuesday, March 27
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff — they comfort me Psalm 23:4
My grandmother loved the Twenty Third psalm and taught me this verse this way: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.”
When my mother died last fall it was these traditional words that I shared with her as I held her hand beside her bed. I shared them with myself when I was alone and needed to be comforted. Through the memories and the hope in the psalmists words I was connected to God’s love and knew God was a strong staff the help me in this time of grief and loss.
All of us have times when we are walking through our darkest valleys. They may not be the shadow of physical death like my grandmother believed, but they are real none the less. They can be valleys of fear or guilt. They can be valleys filled with the memories of the ways others have hurt us, and the ways we have hurt the people we love. Our darkest valleys may be places of physical pain as we struggle to cope with chronic illness. Others may be places where we are seeking to heal from addiction, sexual abuse or mental illness.
Whatever the valleys are, and you know yours, it is good to know that God is with us, like a rod and a staff to help us be comforted. Rods and staffs also help us move along as we seek to leave these valleys behind. Leaving the valleys means the we can find healing in green pastures and beside still waters. –Fran Bogle
Rod that journeys with me, may I find the courage to leave the dark valleys and the valley of the shadow of death. Comfort me as I seek to move to green pastures and rest beside still waters. Let
your healing fill me. Amen.