You Are with Me
By Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage, Guest Writer
Today’s Treasure
"Even 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." Psalm 23:4
Traversing the road to recovery often feels like walking through the valley of the shadow of death. Each journey is complex and mysterious, of uncertain length, and fraught with unknown fears. And yet, according to David, who journeyed through many dark valleys, we can “fear no evil,” because we are not alone. The Lord is closer than whispering distance, guarding and guiding us with his presence.
Imagine you find yourself in a narrow alleyway running between two tall buildings in a dangerous urban area. No streetlights. No building lights. Stark starless night darkness. You can’t see the tips of your fingers, much less the end of the alleyway. It’s too late to return to the other side, before you saw what you saw, before the surgeon made the cut, before your loved one died. The recovery road has much in common with David’s valley of deep darkness.
Notice that David walks through this valley of deep darkness; he doesn’t run, even though he might be tempted to do so. Running isn’t usually an option when you’re recovering from a disaster. Notice that David walks through this deep valley. There is no way around it; there is no turning back. The only way is to go through it, to get to the other side. Notice that David is alone in this deep darkness: “Even though I walk.” Even when we are in a healthy community, we can feel isolated in recovery, as if no one else has ever walked this particular shadowland before.
How would it be possible to fear no evil in a place of such “suspense and surmise,” in which “the evil of evils is uncertainty”[1] The answer comes in the pivot point, verse four, “For you are with me.” Earlier, David told us that the Lord, third person, is his shepherd; now he addresses the Lord directly:
“You are with me.” In other words,
You, the King of kings, are with me.
You, the Lion of Judah, are with me.
You, the Crusher of Satan, are with me.
Take heart, dear friends. His light, the light that has overcome the darkness, has flooded this dark valley. The Lord, Your Shepherd, who protects and guides you with His staff, is with you.
PRAYER
Lord, You are our Shepherd. We trust you to guide us, protect us, and secure us in this dark valley of deep uncertainty. Surround us with your love and mercy so that we may never stray from you. Amen.
[1] Charles Spurgeon, THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH NO. 1595, Spurgeon Gems, https://www.spurgeongems.org/vols25-27/chs1595.pdf, 3.
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About the Author: Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage, MA, MEd, author, life and legacy coach, and speaker, helps people live, create, and organize their practical and spiritual legacies (www.elizabethturnage.com). Elizabeth co-leads the workshop, Organizing Your Life and Legacy, and has written From Recovery to Restoration: 60 Meditations for Finding Peace & Hope in Crisis and The Waiting Room: 60 Meditations for Finding Peace & Hope in a Health Crisis. Elizabeth and her husband, Kip Turnage, enjoy feasting and sharing good stories with their large family of four adult children, three children-in-law, and three grandbabies born this year. They are also the devoted “parents” of the beloved Rosie, a dog who thinks she’s a human.
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Originally published Tuesday, 06 February 2024.
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