In The Valley

We’ve all heard (I’m assuming) Psalms 23 from the time we were kids, but there is one thing that has continually stood out to me especially in recent years. That thing that stood out is in verse 4, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death”. That statement right there is one that has really stayed in my eye everytime I read that Psalm. I know many of us key in on the table that is prepared before us and some concentrate on the oil anointing our head while others deal only with goodness and mercy following us, but me I key in on the valley. Let me just be honest and raw (as always) with you. This has been a week from hell. I have been hit and blindsided with more attacks than I have in a long time. Really it’s been this month but especially this week. A good friend of mine has reminded me of all the feedback I’ve been getting from this blog since its January inception. All of the people emailing or contacting me via Facebook to let me know how much I have helped them in their lives or relationships (all glory to God).  After she reminded me of that she reminded me that with that kind of reach that I have been having, I’m definitely pissing the devil off. I tell you he has truly let me have it something fierce. I’m getting attacked in ways I never saw coming and to be quiet honest I am very weary. That’s where God reminded me of a message I preached about the valley so please know that more than ever this entry is as much for me as it is for anyone who may read this.

God reminded me that He has already shown me that contrary to popular opinion the valley experience is not a completely negative thing. People often associate a valley with death (like the valley of dry bones) and even the wilderness. However, if you actually look up pictures of a valley they are quite beautiful and plentiful usually. Let’s first examine what an actual (natural) valley is. A valley is defined as an elongated depression between uplands, hills, or mountains. Since we are talking this particular scripture let’s also go ahead and define what a shadow is but keep that in your back pocket for now. A shadow is defined basically as an image that is cast by an object blocking light, or being hit by light. The valley of the shadow of death. As I said earlier the valley isn’t a negative thing (at least in this scripture) once you understand what is going on. In the previous verses you see that you are allowing the Lord to lead you and where He leads you is to green pastures where He restores you and gives you rest (makes you lay down). He also leads you beside still waters (meaning they are settled and no real current, i.e. peaceful). He’s going to lead you in the path of righteousness for His name sake. All this leading that the Lord is doing and all of a sudden you are in a valley of the shadow of death, or are you?

See what God began to show me is the valley is necessary because if you look at geographically where a mountain is (inbetween 2 high places usually mountains) you’ll see that He doesn’t all of a sudden lead you in the valley of the shadow of death. You are already there. See still waters are an indication that the water is settled and I don’t know about you but I have never seen water flow uphill so the still waters can’t be on the mountain top, it’s gotta be in the valley. Where there is an abundance of water grass and landscape can grow healthy and green (green pastures). So therefore the green pastures are also in the valley. Now if the green pastures and the still waters are in the valley and that is where He is making you lay down and restoring your soul. Your restoration has to take place in the valley. Now let’s talk about this shadow of death. Understand that a shadow isn’t real, it’s only the image of something real. So the threat of death is around you but it can’t harm you because its only a shadow as long as you keep your hand in the hand of the Lord who you said was your shepherd (verse 1, the Lord is my shepherd). Now if you keep your hand in His hand, you’ll come to see that after He has replenished you He begins to walk you and lead you on a path called His righteousness and on that path death which is around can’t get to you (which is why it’s merely a shadow). Death is stalking you, trying to get you distracted and cause you to let go of the Shepherd’s hand. But the Shepherd is too wise for that see because he has a rod in one hand and a staff in the other. The shepherd’s staff has a hook at the end that is used to yank dumb, disobedient, trifflin, scary sheep like us back to His hand so that death can’t get to us and why is it that death can’t get to us, it’s because in His hand is also that rod (which is also the rod of correction), that He will use to help correct you or fend off the attacks from the devil. Death is aware that the Shepherd has that rod so death will stay at bay (again that’s why you only see the shadow). Your situation (my situation) that you (I) go through is only a shadow. A distraction used to try to pull you from the hand of the Shepherd. But keep your hand in His hand because once you do you’ll see something else that takes place in the valley. That anointing of your head with oil is the preparation for you to be elevated to the mountain top. You can’t go to the mountain top till you have been found worthy and endued with power by the anointing which comes from God (the Shepherd). Oh and all of those haters, all the ones that you encountered in the situations you were going through. The ones this scripture refers to as your enemies. They get to sit at the table which in monarchy times which was the beginning of a ceremony. They have to sit and watch you be blessed (the table being prepared in the presence of your enemies). They have to watch you being anointed and elevated. They have to watch you being sent out because see once you are anointed the Shepherd will let go of your hand and send you off but He won’t send you alone, He tells goodness and mercy to follow you everywhere you go. He tells them to stay with you as you ascend to the mountain top where you can then be seen.

See the valley; while a place that the devil may try to send some attacks after you’ is a place of hiding and preparation. Once you start ascending to the mountain top (going forward in the purpose of God for that level) there is no more hiding. You are out there and prime target for the devil but remember the Shepherd sent goodness and mercy to follow you all the days of your life so that “No weapon formed against you can prosper”. Prior to that God was fighting your battles but now that you are prepared the Holy Bible tells you in the book of Isaiah 54:17 that you have to condemn every tongue that rises up against you in judgment. You have to rebuke it, you have to set the enemy to flight. You have been prepared because you got your training, your energy, your anointing in the valley. I am in another valley experience because every level you go to has a valley experience to prepare you for what is to come. I am in another valley experience but the distraction of the devil won’t cause me to miss out on my preparation for this level. I pray that your situations don’t distract you from your level and what you are called to do in it. The thing I like the most about this scripture is you don’t just sit in the valley, you go through it which means there is an end. The question is how will yours end. Will it end with you being a part of the death that casts a shadow or will you keep your hand in His hand and allow Him to do everything needed in the valley. You can’t escape it, you can’t run from it, so if you have to go through it you might as well go through it. But I promise you and I am speaking encouragement to myself as well. Your deliverance and blessing isn’t going to happen on the mountain top it’s going to happen in the valley. God bless and as always remember Grow in God’s Grace and Abide in His Love!