Walking Through, Not Stuck In

“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 (ESV)

Loss is a common source of stress. I can lose so many things—like my job, health, money, reputation, or a loved one.

When people go through loss, there are two common reactions: One is fear, and the other is grief.

Grief is good. Grief is the way I can get through the transitions of life. In fact, if I don’t grieve, I'll get stuck!

On the other hand, fear is a bad thing. Not once does the Bible say, “Grieve not,” “Mourn not,” “Weep not,” or “Cry not.” What it does say is, “Fear not.” And it says that 365 times! Grief doesn’t paralyze, but fear does.

David says in Psalm 23:4, “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” (ESV).

When that psalm was written, shepherds always carried a rod and a staff to protect their sheep. David knew that, in the same way, God had the tools to protect him. And he trusted God, even in the darkest valleys.

I will end up going through the valley of a shadow. It may be the valley of the shadow of death. It may be the valley of the shadow of debt. It may be the valley of the shadow of conflict. It may be the valley of the shadow of depression. It may be the valley of the shadow of discouragement.

Here are a few things about shadows:

First, shadows can’t hurt me.

Second, shadows are always bigger than the source.

And here’s more good news: Wherever there’s a shadow, there has to be a light. I can’t have a shadow without light. So the key when I'm going through the valley of the shadow is to turn my back on the shadow and look at the light. Because as long as I keep mt eyes on the light—Jesus, the Light of the World—the shadow won’t scare me.

That’s how I can go through the valley of the shadow of death. That’s how I can lower my stress. I trust God in the dark valleys, just like David, who prayed, “When I am ready to give up, he knows what I should do” (Psalm 142:3 GNT).

In summary:

Psalm 23:4 reminds me that even in life’s darkest valleys—whether it’s loss, grief, depression, or fear—I don’t have to be afraid, because God is with me and fully equipped to protect and comfort me. Loss is inevitable and grief is healthy, but fear paralyzes. While shadows may seem large and threatening, they can’t harm me, and they only exist because light is nearby. By keeping my eyes on Jesus, the Light of the World, I can walk through the valley with peace instead of panic. Trusting God in the shadows lowers my stress and strengthens my faith in His presence and guidance.

Bottom Line:

In life’s darkest valleys, I don’t need to fear—because God is with me, guiding, protecting, and comforting me as I keep my eyes on Him.