“Even when I go through the darkest valley,
I fear no danger, for You are with me….”
Psalm 23:4
We all sign up for “mountain top” experiences, but the dark valleys… we would really rather avoid even talking about those kinds of things. But God doesn’t avoid this topic, as the above verse highlights. And that provides us with encouraging words for our day on how we can survive and thrive in the valleys of life!
Maybe some of your valleys have been intense like mine—the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, miscarriages, disabled spouse, divorce, a child who has wandered away from family, disabling disease or illness. Those valleys brought me to a point where I would pray to God, “You say you won’t give us more than we can handle, but please don’t trust me with so much!” These are the kinds of hardships that feel as though we have been pushed out of an airplane in a sky dive event with no parachute—free falling into an abyss.
But so often, the “valleys” of life aren’t the big things but are bumpy moments in our day. Nothing is going according to plan, the children are squabbling, work is dicey, the spouse is grumpy, we feel waves of intense loneliness… These types of moments make us feel guilty because we know life is “good,” but at the moment—not so much.
Whether our valley today is an abyss or just a bump in the road, how do we survive and even thrive? Right now, I am in a time of feeling incredibly alone, vulnerable both emotionally and physically. Yet God has wrapped His loving arms of grace around me and is reminding me that He is present—I am not alone.
In the midst of this “valley” I am learning to praise the Lord through daily reading the Psalms. Psalm 119:49-50 is one of those that reminds me of His promises, “Remember Your promises to me, for it is my only hope. Your promise revives me; it comforts me in all my troubles.” (NLT)
The best way to assure we will survive and thrive in our faith, coming out on the other side even stronger than before, is to frequently pray His promises (see verses below). And whatever might happen in our day today, we can be certain His grace will see us through.
Protection Promises: Prov.18:10; 1 Sam.2:9; Ps.125: 1-2; Ps.91:3-4, 11-12; Ps.34:19-20; Ps.121:1-8; Prov.29:25
Promises that God Will Meet Our Needs: Phil.4:19; Matt.6:25-26, 31-33; Deut.28:1, 11-12; Luke 12:30-31; Deut.29:9; Ps.111:5; Isa.1:19; Zech.10:1; Lev.26:3-5
Promise of God’s Presence in times of fear and doubt: Isa.41:10; Isa.41:13; Isa.43:1; 2 Tim.1:7; Luke 12:6-7; 1 John 4:18; Rom.4:21; Ps.112:7; Isa.58:9
God’s Promises for times of depression: Ps.43:5; Ps.73:26; Ps.37:23-24; Ps.34:4- 7; Isa.49:15; Heb.13:5
Promise that God is Present in times of failure and helplessness: John 14:1; Isa.61:1-3; Ps.147:3; Rom.8:28; Isa.41:13; 2 Cor.12:9; Rom.8:26; Heb.13:6; 1 John 4:4
Promise of God’s Assurances in times of anxiety: Matt.6:30, 34; Phil.4:6-7; Luke 12:25-26; 1 Pet.5:6-7; Gal.5:1; Matt.11:28-30.
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