The process

Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭23‬:‭4‬ ‭AMPC‬‬

Why was David walking in the valley of the shadow of death? Why didn’t he just run? Why didn’t he just avoid it altogether? Why walk where your life is being threatened? Does that make sense? I live in Johannesburg, {South Africa} there are places here that I just can’t go to. The places are known to be dangerous; you can go there and never come back with your eyes open. I imagine the valley of the shadow of death could be alikened to such a place but David says “l walk through”. I will probably marry a bold man like David but esqueeze me? What do you mean you want to walk through a dangerous place my dhiye?

“The season is hard, l just want to run and rush through, I want speed, I want to just come out of this place NOW! I am faced with danger; the place poses a threat to my life; the trials are too much; the speed of Elijah Lord,” and God says “We are not going to run from it; we will walk through it!” We all know people who “rushed out” and ended up committing suicide. They didn’t understand that sometimes the pressure to rush out is a trap of the enemy. Walking is a slower pace compared to running. It means you’re most likely to stay longer in an environment when you’re walking while the one who runs can find themselves in a different location in a short space of time provided the journey isn’t long. Are we to speed through every season or do some seasons require that we walk instead?

The valley of the shadow of death can be emotional, mental, physical, etcetera. It is not necessarily walking through a dangerous place in Johannesburg. When we read this verse, we often picture someone walking through a tar-black valley and the devil himself hovering over them with his black hood and sickle waiting to pounce on them. Well, at least that’s what I picture. But this touches on different areas of our lives. The dark valley of depression. The dark valley of unemployment. The dark valley of a business failure, a painful lawsuit. The dark valley of a serious illness or of caring for someone who becomes increasingly dependent on you. Every Christian knows what it is to walk through times of darkness, and when you find yourself in a dark valley, this Psalm is for you.

I’m here to say to you; it is just a shadow. Trust God. Do not fear. He is with you. Do not panic. Do not try to be like the world that runs from process. Yes, part of the journey may be uncomfortable; trust Him. Trust in Him. We are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed. We are not of those who are quick to find our our “fixes” Some in an attempt to avoid the dark valley, got themselves addicted to “quick fixes”. A quick fix will wear out and there you’ll be, afraid again. David says I fear no evil because You are with me! Do you believe that He is with you?

Do you feel afraid? Afraid that you won’t make it? Others are going ahead and I’m just here, thugging through life? Afraid that one day the thoughts will cave in and you’ll take the rope? Afraid of trying? Afraid of being alone? Afraid of process because it involves putting off and putting on? Afraid of the unknown ? Afraid that we might die? Are you afraid of the receipts that you’ll receive this monthend? I want to say to you, He is with you! We will never walk through the valley of the shadow of death alone.

Walk with your Abba. Don’t try to outrun Him. He sets the pace of the process. You follow in faith. Do not bring God into your own desired pace. He knows what to do to get you where you need to be, when you need to be there. He will do all this while protecting and comforting you.

Don’t worry , you are in good hands. One of the things I had to relearn the past couple of days is

”It’s okay to be Abba’s baby. It’s okay to not have to be so tough. It’s okay to be a child, sit on His lap and rest in His arms. David was not always fighting Goliath “s” I hope you know he wasn’t the only giant. He was a psalmist on some days , singing to the Lord and building intimacy. It doesn’t mean he didn’t have problems.There is a time to fight but there’s also a time to rest in the boat. So , It’s okay to be vulnerable to Him. It’s okay to rest in His love. It’s okay. It’s okay. It’s okay darling. What you’re so afraid of , could just be , a shadow.”

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