No matter how often we drive through Fancy Gap and see the low country stretching below I am always amazed. Our mighty creator God doesn’t skimp on details. Sometimes we are in that mountaintop experience in life. That awesome moment is not just because of its height but also because from there we see the depths of the valley. How special to know that He has promised to walk with us down through the depths of the shadows. No matter how deep or how dark His hand will guide us all the way home!
…He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me Psalm 23:3b-4
My aunt Dorothy served as the National Executive Secretary of the U.S. of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom from 1924-46. Being an advocate for peace in Washington DC during the war was quite unpopular, but from her time there she passed on to our family this saying: “It isn’t what you know in Washington that matters; it’s who you know!”
So when things seem confusing and difficult in our walk of faith remember, it isn’t what we know about the path that will keep us going; it’s how well we know who is leading. God has promised, not because of who we are, what we have done or how much we know, but for His own name’s sake to lead us on the right path. There are times that right path will lead into dark valleys. There are moments when our enemies will peer from behind the rocks planning how to destroy us; but we must never run away. Our shepherd is with us. In those dark nights, we need to walk as close to Him as we can. If you cannot see the path ahead then press in until you are close enough to hear his footsteps. His rod and His staff hang at His side ready to protect us. He will be our shepherd not only in the green pastures but also in the shadow of death!
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me Psalm 23:4
When I read about the valley of the shadow I sometimes remember driving through a place called Sugar Hollow. Though everything might seem sunny, dark shadows would begin to intrude across the road as it twisted and turned into the entrance to the hollow. The hills on both sides were steep and they cast such a shadow that in the late afternoon drivers quickly put on their headlights. The brightness of the day disappeared as we passed through that mile.
In the same way, God has chosen to lead us through a region called “the valley of the shadow of death”. The presence of a shadow tells us that we are close to the object which is blocking the source of light. The closeness of our enemies brings darkness into our lives but Psalm 23 gives us some lampposts to light the way to our Father’s house.
First Lamppost -He is with us 
When Joseph discovered that Mary was
pregnant he was afraid and ready to quietly abandon his hopes of marriage and happiness at her side. But God told Joseph to not be afraid because Mary’s miracle child was to be called –
Immanuel “God with us” Matthew 1:23
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