Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,I fear no evil; for You are with me.- Psalm 23:4
I counseled a woman a few years back.She had just lost her husband of many years in a tragic car accident.Although she was a committed Christian, she was still devastated, bewildered, angry, and, deep down, did not want to go on. It was hard seeing her so hurt, yet there was nothing anyone could do for her to take away the pain.
While not all of us experience the same tragedies in life, we can all relate to being hurt.We can all relate to rejection, abuse, ridicule, disappointment, betrayal, loss, fear, sadness, bad choices… and the list goes on.
NO
ONE IS IMMUNE
King David was the only man in the Bible called "a man after God’s own heart" (Acts 13:22), yet he suffered hurt on many levels – misunderstood and hunted by King Saul, mocked and despised by his own wife, betrayed and hated by his own son, devastated by his own sin, and rejected by the people who chose to follow Absalom instead of David.Without question, David spent lots of time in the dark valley of the shadow of death.
But notice… he walked through that valley; he did not build a home there.He did not curse God and die there. He trusted God in the valley… and the Lord saw him through to the other side
.
WHY?
Why the dark valleys?Why all the hurts?Why all the storms in life?To show us that God is more than able to take the worst life can throw at us and turn it around for good.
I read somewhere that, "A faith that cannot be tested, cannot be trusted."Our faith is not tested on the mountain top… it is tested in the valley.People watch you in the valley to see if your Jesus really does make a difference.
You and I will NEVER have a better opportunity to show the manifest presence of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world than when we are hurting.If they can see a peace that passes understanding… a confidence that defies the circumstances a joy that does not make sense then they will begin to see Jesus in you and me and want what we have.AMEN someone!
WHAT TO DO?
No matter how you may be hurting today, do not give up!!Do not give into the temptation to "curse God and die!" Even though you may not feel it or understand it, the Lord really does love you, and He still has a wonderful plan.Nothing can come into your life unless it first filters through His fingers of love.
Thank Him for the hurt.That’s right,thank Him for the hurt.Give it all to Him so He can use it for good.Remember, He promises to never leave you or forsake you (Heb. 13:5).He promises to give you “beauty for ashes” (Is. 61:3).Seek Him each day for strength to go on.Remind Him that He promised to be present in your valley.Ask Him to see you through!!He will do it, if you do not quit!
A HAPPY
ENDING
He is a God who brings us through!It will not be immediate, for it takes time to heal… but it will be sure as you simply depend upon Him and say with Job, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him” (Job 13:15).
There is a light and a new life at the end of your dark valley! How do I know? Because He promised!! In His Light
By A Sister in Christ.
