Through

Perhaps one of the most familiar passages in all of Scripture is The Twenty-Third Psalm.  We learn it as children.  We hear it read at funerals.  Even people who don't regularly attend church or who don't spend a lot of time in the Bible have heard of this Psalm.

Today I have that Psalm playing over and over in my head.  Well, actually one verse of that Psalm.  Verse 4 says "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me."  Over the last few months, I have come back to that verse time and again. 

As I have been thinking about that verse recently, a few words have stood out to me.  Even though.  Through.  With.

"Even though" is an expression of certainty.  This tells me not to be surprised when tough times come.  It tells me they will come.  But in spite of the tough times.......no matter what happens.....even though.......there is no reason to fear.  The certainty is that tough times will come.  The certainty is also that I don't face them alone.

"With me".  I'm not alone.  No matter what happens.  "Thou art with me."  What a comfort!  Even though tough times come.  Even though I may feel alone, I'm not!  Over and over through the Scriptures this truth rings true!

Matthew 28:20....."I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

2 Chronicles 16:9....."The eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the whole earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His."

Psalm 3:3......"But You, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory and One who lifts my head."

But I think my favorite word in this verse is the word "through".  That tells me that no matter what I'm experiencing right now, what valley I'm in, what the difficulty is, it isn't permanent!  I won't be in this tough time forever, because this verse tells me that I walk through the valley.  I don't walk into it to stay!  And that, my friends, brings me great comfort!

The "into" comes later, in the last verse, when "I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. (Psalm 23:6b).

Until then, whatever I'm walking through is part of the "all things" that are working together for my good and His glory (see Romans 8:28-29).  So I walk through the valley with my eyes fixed on Jesus because He is with me.  As He promised He would be.  Even in the valley.