I am thankful for the valleys. I do not like the valleys. However, I am fully aware of the necessity and power of the valleys.
The valleys are full of darkness, cold hearts, heartlessness, hurt, pain, and death. These and similar moods, attitudes, and actions are the shadows. They follow us, chase us, and are constantly pursuing us. This is the terror of long nights and arrows targeting us during the day.
You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.
Psalm 91:5-6 ESV
Shadows are our past, fears, injustice, mistreatment, bad decisions, broken hearts, toxic relationships, and manipulation. These and many more are the shadows of the soul. They are the shadows of death in our valleys, low points, and loss.
We walk through these moments, times, and spaces. We walk through them as parents, spouses, professionals, citizens, employees, and employers. No space of life and living is exempt from valleys or their shadows. Yet, we are fully aware and encouraged to fear no evil.
Father, help us, help me, to not fear the evil of this life’s valleys, to not fear the evil of the shadows, to not fear the voices of fear, and to not fear the voice of the shadows.
