Psalm 23: In the Pastures, Through the Valleys

I consider Psalm 23 to be one of the most calming passages in the Bible. This psalm is decorated with imagery of “green pastures,” “quiet waters,” and “paths of righteousness.” It’s incredibly reassuring to imagine God as a shepherd guiding me through a picturesque, serene landscape. To me, this passage highlights the ways in which God calls us to these quiet places of rest in which He restores us.

However, this passage also highlights the ways in which God walks with us through hardship. Psalm 23 does not shy away from the fact that we will, inevitably, venture through parts of life that emulate “the valley of the shadow of death.” Although God will be with us, we will have hardships to endure that take us far out of our comfort zone, sometimes to places of great despair and darkness. Verse five includes the following quote: “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” To me, this indicates that even though God creates this space for us, we will nonetheless have to eat our meal with those who are against us.

God is not only a shepherd through easy, joyful times, but He is also shepherding us through the difficult times. Psalm 23 acknowledges that we will not only walk through green pastures with God, but we will also walk through the darkest valleys. Still, the one thing we can count on, despite the changing circumstances around us, is that God will be with us.

Two years ago, I had the privilege of hiking the Enchantments near Leavenworth, WA, with my dad. This is hands down the most grueling hike I’ve ever completed. It’s an all-day hike between two different trailheads, involving 4,400 feet of elevation gain, quickly followed by an even more taxing 7,000 foot descent. When my dad and I reached the top of the ascent, we were greeted by spectacular views of alpine lakes, snow-covered peaks, and mountain goats. This part of the wilderness really feels like a small slice of heaven. However, this serene landscape marks the beginning of an incredibly mentally demanding, strenuous descent. At the end of the hike, I certainly felt like I was teetering into the valley of the shadow of death.

Nonetheless, I felt God’s presence with us the whole way. The scenery, the experience of being away from “regular” life, and the chance to spend time with my dad – these are all certainly gifts from God. I had a tangible sensation that God was shepherding us through the entire experience: through the serene alpine meadows and down the knee-grinding descent.

The “green pastures” section of the hike

I truly believe that God is methodical in the ways He leads us into periods of rest. Perhaps these times of restoration and peace are God’s way of preparing us for treacherous parts of the journey to come, although only God can see that these difficulties are on the horizon. In retrospect, I am so grateful for the periods of rest that God has provided me with, which have allowed me to recuperate so that I may continue on, adventuring with Him through the difficult legs of some metaphorical journey of life.

I invite you to reflect upon the following: Where can we lean into the periods of rest and restoration that God provides for us? How has God led you through your own “dark valleys” in the past?

Bonus content: two very different moods after coming through a “dark valley” of a descent!