A Darkest Valley

             Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4) 

Like most people, I’ve walked through some valleys that seemed “darkest.” There have been times when what kept me going was the fact that my dog needed me. Now, understand, I know a couple people who have broken their backs recently, and one is likely to be paralyzed until he reaches heaven’s door. I know people who have lost spouses. I know someone who quite probably drank himself to death. I know there are people living in horrific conditions while – by comparison – I live in the lap of luxury. I know of people who seem to have it all, but the media records their descent into misery.

This passage isn’t an invitation to a contest. You have probably walked through a darkest valley. I have walked through them. While it may sound pathetic that my dog is what kept me going, I believe God used Honey in that way. It wasn’t that Honey made me feel better. It was that she needed me, and I loved her enough that I didn’t want to abandon her. It wasn’t someone else’s love for me that got me through that darkest valley, it was my love for someone else that got me through. Love was God’s staff. With it, He guided me through valleys.

In a way, it’s like It’s A Wonderful Life. I didn’t need a major production of what life would have been like if I’d never been born. I just needed my dog at my side as I walked and struggled. Another time, it was my father.

I’ve known other people to use love when someone’s in a darkest valley, but they use it as a rod. They tell people, “Jesus, others, self. Get your eyes off yourself!” What they don’t say, but the one in the valley hears is “You lousy, filthy monster! How dare you hurt? Look at how much worse other folks have it.” Adding pain to pain doesn’t help the one in pain.

With Roe V. Wade being (finally) overturned, there are going to be people who are going through valleys of shadows of death and there will be people who will make the valley worse, exaggerating every shadow or using a rod to beat the weary, frightened, overwhelmed traveler. We need to find staves to use to guide, not to bludgeon. These women will need courage, comfort, strength, stability, and not only to be shown love but to be taught to love enough to keep facing hard times.