Valleys

Psalm 23:4
4 Yea, 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 84:6 (New International Reader's Version)
6 As they pass through the dry Valley of Baca, they make it a place where water flows. The rain in the fall covers it with pools.

I keep reading Psalm 84 over and over. “As they pass through the dry valley”. Is your life feeling dry? Do the conditions seem too extreme for a mere mortal to bare? Try to remember you’re just passing through. It’s a part of your pilgrimage. The thing is, as you pass through God is working it so things are passing out of you. Soon we find ourselves crying. As our tears of suffering begin to flow so does the Holy Spirit. His spirit begins to flow through us and enable us to gain strength in the midst of our trembling. What we leave behind are pearls of wisdom in the form of pools for others.

“For you are with me…you comfort me”. The Lord will never leave you crying. But he will let you cry long enough to wet the dry, desert floor. You have to cry. If you hadn’t cried, how would you have known the comfort of the Lord? Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. Mourning is just a place to start; it’s where your greatest fellowship with Christ will be. This intimate fellowship will bring about rejoicing and a resilient faith characterized by patience.

Matthew 5:3-5 (New King James Version)
3 “ Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.

2 Corinthians 1:4 (New King James Version)
4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.