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He is With You in Your Valley
Jennifer
Rothschild
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I
will fear no evil; For You are with me.” Psalm 23:4a (NKJV)
It was a trendy
restaurant with bird cages hung across the ceiling, old church pews for seats
and an eclectic menu. I was with my husband Phil, so everything was fantastic.
Fantastic until
I entered the ladies’ room, that is.
The decorator
carried the urban barn theme into the bathroom. All wood and brick and totally
funky and eccentric and … confusing. Here’s why.
I’m blind.
I began losing
my eyesight as a teen due to a disease called Retinitis Pigmentosa. Now, four
decades later, my world is totally dark.
So, having to
navigate through all that creativity alone was hard! Straight lines and
predictable layouts are much easier.
I used my cane
and ran my hand across the wooden doors until I found an opening.
But the stall
was at a weird angle and, after I made my way into it, I realized I couldn’t
find my way out of it. Every wall in the stall felt the same.
Evidently, when
I entered the stall, the door swung behind me and clicked itself shut. But
getting out? Well, that was a problem.
Where was the
latch?!
Where was the
handle?!
Where was the
door?!
There were so
many hinges and handles inside the stall, I couldn’t determine which were
decorative and which could get me out of that cage of confusion.
I panicked.
An overwhelming
dread came over me, not knowing how I got so turned around and how I could get
out of there.
Phil, having
heard me from outside the restroom door, poked his head in and asked, “Honey,
are you OK?”
I’m not sure
what I said, but it was obvious I was not OK.
So, he marched
right into that women’s restroom and knocked on the outside of the stall door
until I found it.
When I pulled
the latch and tumbled out of the door, I was fighting anxiety.
He asked what
happened. But I didn’t know, except that I’d gotten disoriented and felt stuck,
afraid, confused and vulnerable.
We all have
those things that make us feel afraid, confused and vulnerable. A difficult
relationship, discouraging situation, chronic or fatal diagnosis, or even
painful memories.
I’ll just call
them valleys.
And, when we
find ourselves in the valley, we can feel vulnerable and long for a rescue, a
shelter … a Shepherd for our souls.
The Lord is our
Shepherd, and He is with us in our valleys.
Valleys might
bring out our fear, but they also bring us closer to our Shepherd.
King David reminds us that “though I walk through the
valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with
me” (Psalm 23:4a).
So, if you’re
in a valley, you might not be able to get out of it.
But here are
some ways to get through it:
1. Look to
the Shepherd.
Oh sister, we are just as easily rattled as sheep! So, when
we’re startled by situations and looking for a way out, we can look to our
Shepherd first.
He’s with us in our valley. He promises He’ll never leave us nor
forsake us. That means you will never, ever walk through a valley alone.
So, if it’s tough and if you’re afraid, don’t look for the exit;
look for the Shepherd. He is with you.
2. Listen to
the Shepherd
His voice is His Word. Even in your darkest valley, the light of
His Word can give comfort and clarity.
Listen to Scripture, and be comforted by His presence and
promises when you’re in a valley.
Pick just one or two Scriptures to meditate on and see how His
Word will be the light you need.
3. Lean on
the Shepherd
Valleys make us feel weak. But when you’re weak, He is strong in
and for you.
And if He leads you through valleys that seem too difficult, He
will carry you.
It’s okay to feel weak and need strength — we’re just sheep who
need a Shepherd.
So many things in this life are over our heads and beyond our
abilities. But nothing we face is too hard for Him.
So, don’t rely on your own strength. Lean on God’s instead — He
will be enough to get you through your valley.
Dear Lord, when
I can’t change my valley, help me change my perspective. Use my valleys to
create everlasting good for my life and in it. Help me look to You, listen to
Your voice, and lean hard on You today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
TRUTH FOR TODAY
Psalm 95:7a, “… for he is our God and we are the people of
his pasture, the flock under his care.” (NIV)
Psalm 61:2, “From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call
as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” (NIV)
RELATED RESOURCES
Do you ever
feel like you’re running on empty? You try so hard to keep it all together, and
yet, no matter how busy you are or how much you’re needed, it still doesn’t
feel like enough? Don’t miss our next Online Bible Study, Psalm 23: The
Shepherd with Me, by Jennifer Rothschild. You’ll learn how to find
contentment in the goodness of Jesus and look to Him to supply everything you
need … even when life is exhausting.The study begins TODAY. Join us!
CONNECT
Receive daily
encouragement from Jennifer when you connect with her on Facebook and Instagram.
Plus, receive weekly encouragement to live the “I can” life on her 4:13 Podcast.
REFLECT AND RESPOND
What’s one
Scripture you will choose today to be a light in your valley? Share it with
us in the comments!
My name
is Jennifer Rothschild – with a silent “s”. I am an author,
speaker, Bible study teacher, wife and Mom.
And, I
happen to be blind.
I’m just
like you. I just do things a little differently.
My
Biography
Growing
up, I lived in Clearwater, Florida, Costa Rica, and Miami. I graduated
from Palm Beach Atlantic University (home
of the fighting Sailfish) in 1986 with a BA in Psychology, and minor in
Communication. I married my college sweetheart when I graduated, and now, for
the past 31 years I call him my own personal Dr. Phil (since he has his
Ph.D.!) We have 2 sons. Clayton was born in 1989 and Connor was born in 1998 –
yes, they’re almost ten years apart! In May of 2012, we finally got a daughter
– Clayton married his college sweetheart recently
and our whole family is so grateful. Caroline Gear Rothschild is
a delightful addition to the family.
Phil,
Connor, and I live in Springfield Missouri; Clayton and Caroline are in Texas.
The actual head of our home, so she thinks, is our very prissy Shih-tzu, Lucy.
She usually wears pink bows on her well-trimmed ears and eats from shiny food
bowls with crowns embossed on them! She refuses to place her paws on wet grass
and has never met a stranger.
I love
thin crust veggie pizza, dark chocolate, coffee, interesting conversations, and
reading books by dead authors… I’m most crazy about C.S. Lewis, but Henry James
and Jane Austen are close seconds! Joni Eareckson Tada totally inspires me to
keep walking by faith. And Michael O’Brien’s music uplifts me and brings me
joy. I’ve been known to get a little over zealous about The Antique Road Show,
American Idol and Georgia Bulldog football.
I’ve
written 14 books and Bible studies and recorded several music CDs. Lessons
I Learned in the Dark has been a best seller along with the popular Me, Myself and Lies: What to Say When You
Talk to Yourself. The heady, but very readable book I wrote
is God is Just Not
Fair: Finding Hope When Life Doesn’t Make Sense. The most “giftable”
book is the beautifully designed, 66 Ways God Loves You: Experience God’s Love for You in Every
Book of the Bible.
I’ve had
the privilege of appearing on the Today Show, Good Morning America, Dr. Phil,
Life Today, and the Billy Graham Television Special. I travel between 25-30
times each year to speak to groups – mostly women. I also love to
bring Fresh Grounded Faith to
different parts of the country about 12 times a year. These are my own
conferences where local churches come together and bring a kingdom-minded event
to their community. It’s always a time of refreshment and healing for women.
My Dr.
Phil and I founded the womensministry.net Leadership
Library in 1998. It is a website where we equip women in ministry to lead
well. If that’s you, I invite you to check it out!
And, did
I mention I’m blind?
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