Image by Steve-h via Flickr
As I walked this morning darkness still shrouded the morning sky. The daylight in the evening hours is stretching out but it remains quite dark at my usual hour of awakening. Although I know my neighborhood quite well, there was a slight hesitancy in walking beyond the safety of my own fenced yard in the blackness of the morning. But as I took the first step beyond my comfort zone, I found the next steps came easier and easier. Even so I still walked along the most illuminated parts of the neighborhood.
Rounding the corner, I knew my home was not far away. As I inched closer to my personal oasis, a familiar passage of scripture came to mind.
Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will not fear for thou art with me. Psalms 23:
Yes its one I have known now for years. The 23rd Psalms was one of the first passage of scriptures I memorized as a child. However, I have only come to know the depth of its meaning in my adulthood.
Walking in the dark in my familiar neighborhood is a bit uneasy at times but it is doable because I know the landscape and I have trust that it is a safe place. But in this life I do not always have the privilege of knowing exactly what the terrain of trouble, test, or trial will entail. Truth is in life we often find ourselves walking through valley-like places. Situations that appear taller than us. Circumstances way beyond our control. And it’s in those low dark places that we encounter the shadows of death. It’s there that we hear the words, “you will never make it out of this”, “you are going to die in this”, “things will never change”. Everything looks unfamiliar and the voices within are speaking of your imminent demise.
With all of that going on around and in us, I (we) do not have to give into fear. Just as I had the courage to walk beyond the boundary of my yard because I know the area and I trust that it is safe, we have to remember and to trust in the one who walks with us. It is our knowing that He is there and He knows the way we take that gives us the courage to keep stepping through the dark-see nothing-days of the valley. And as we keep walking, we discover that morning always come.
Have you allowed the darkness in your soul to limit your spiritual mobility? Are the whispers of the enemy threatening to make you throw in the towel?
What a powerful, wonderful reminder, Wanda. this blessed me.
Wonderful to know you were blessed by it Joanne.
Our pastor talked about this ver thing yesterday, He is going to stretch us beyond what we think we can bear, He is going to call us to get out of the boat and walk on water and that is when we must reach out our hand and grab hold of Jesus.
Blessings to you.
Hi Kandi, the stretching is such an uncomfortable feeling but staying in the boat robs us of knowing just how able our God is to carry us through. Have a great week.
Unemployment is a valley. I’m trying very hard not to do that. It helps that I have several projects besides job-hunting to keep me busy. I’m trying to learn Spanish, and am about to start painting my kitchen. 🙂
Hi Elizabeth, I have walked through the valley of under-employment and I must say that it was a period of great growth for me personally. I wish I remembered more from my two years of Spanish class. It’s a great skill to have. All the best to you.
Oh my, oh my. Wanda, so many people are in that place of hesitating or taking the step. I already had four calls of distress since Saturday from friends who are literally afraid to step into the unknown (though their current situation is surround by darkness and death), and that very Scripture…walking through the valley of the shadow…came up time and time again. Keep on walking, keep on blogging. God is with you; God is with us; God is in us.
The fact that you had four calls tells me what a wonderful source of wisdom and strength you are to others LaVonne. Thank you for encouraging me to keep moving!
I am glad you got past the fence….it is a beautiful time of day! It is not easy to go into the dark though
I am glad I did too but I be happy when that time of morning has more daylight.
It has been such a long time since I came by…for that I am sorry. I have been on a sort of hiatus you might say. Fear often stops me from moving beyond my comfort zones and I recently came across a great quote that says “Limitations only exist if you let them” How true…Thankfully we have God who is always there to hold our hands through our many trials in life…thanks for sharing your heart Wanda.
No need to apologize Shannon. We all need a break from time to time. Hope your hiatus has been refreshing. I love that quote and I’ll be adding it to my collection.
I Love reading your post…this one makes me feel like you can see me right from where you are. But i know that is how God talks to us. Thanks – I choose to lean on the saviour and I can trust in Him. A singer once sang and said–“I would rather walk in the dark with Jesus than to walk in the light on my own”
Thank you Emmah. I like the line of the song you shared. Too often we are relying on our inner light not realizing it’s leading us into darkness.