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. (Psalms 23:4)
If you are a human and have lived at least a decade on this planet earth, you have been through the valley at least once.
What is the valley?
The valley could be anything, spiritual depression, mental concerns, physical infirmities, emotional turmoil- any low point in your life where you felt unseen, unheard and unwanted.
In almost 3 decades of my existence, I have been through the experience innumerable times and am so well-versed with the terrain that I can recognize the land even in my sleep!
My First Experience Through the Valley
My very first memory of the valley was when I lost my newborn brother, Sahil, to lung congestion, just hours after he was born.
I was barely 10, my younger brother Saby was around 5 or 6. It was the morning of the 17th of March, 2004. We woke up to find our mom and dad missing, and another aunty from our church watching over us.
I studied in a convent school till college so even as a child we were taught how to pray. I had been praying for my brother ever since I knew he was in my mum’s womb.
You don’t know much when you are barely 10. Death and life look like a real but distant concept.
There was no internet, no androids for instant updates, but just that single phone which that aunty was talking on. I knew immediately that something was wrong.
A child was born but there was concern in her voice.
I did what I knew best to do- knelt and prayed for my brother to come home.
Morning passed into afternoon and when people finally started arriving, my brother was not there.
Two other women held on to my mom as she walked into our house. My mom was crying. My brother was not there.
He wouldn’t be coming anytime soon. I would have to go to him.
For days after that, I remember asking God, “why?”
I didn’t know then; I still don’t know now. But that was my first experience of walking through the valley.
Through Every Valley, He is Faithful!
Fast forward almost 20 years, I have been through many more valleys in every possible way. (Read more about my beginnings in Christ here-A Brief History Of My Life In Christ (From August 2019 To April 2023) | SeeCaptions)
Yet through all of them, one truth remains, “God is faithful.”
The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. (John 10:11) He seeks the one lost sheep, leaving behind the 99. (Matthew 18:12)
And in one way, I am grateful for the valleys, cause moving through them with my Shepherd fine-tunes my spiritual ears to hear His voice. (John 10:5)
I can trust Him to lead me through the valley, irrespective of how deep, how murky or how engulfing it may seem. He uses His rod to strike off my enemies, He pulls me from trenches with His staff. (Psalm 23:4)
He leads me on the right path, besides streams of peace and joy, leading me to rest in green pastures filled with His goodness and love. (Psalm 23:2-3)
My enemies watch as He replenishes my strength, feeding me on His promises, filling me up till my cup of complete wholeness and wellbeing (shalom) flows over. (Psalm 23:5)
And what about the times when I go astray? He literally chases me down!! (Psalm 23:6)
Because He leads me, I can walk despite my trials, even when I am hurt, even when I have been fleeced.
For when I am at my weakest, He carries me in His own arms, refusing to extinguish my smoldering wick. (Isaiah 42:3)
My Shepherd is my strength. Because I am rooted in Him, I will lack no good thing! Hallelujah!
True, at times, I may not understand the mess, but there is a miracle that awaits on the other side.
All I need to do is walk through the valley in my Shepherd’s arms!
Are You in a Valley Today?
Are you standing in a valley of doubt, guilt, shame or condemnation today?
Don’t stay stuck for salvation (Yeshua) awaits, with open arms! Draw near to Him and He will draw near to you (James 4:8). No valley is too deep for Him to reach you!
I never met Sahil, but my brother Saby has been a blessing beyond compare.
What’s more, in my time at the Bible School, God blessed me with such an extended family in Christ that even till date, all I need to do is pick up that phone (yes, praise God for internet and android) and call!
(Read my blog on why go to bible school here: Why Go To Spirit Of Faith Bible School 2024? | SeeCaptions)
God bless you!
