Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me. Psalm 23:4 AMP
As I have shared in previous posts, my husband has been diagnosed with prostate cancer (stage 4). We have spent a lot of time going back and forth to doctors, getting a biopsy, MRI, Pet Scan, consultations, a treatment plan and a second opinion. Through all of this we have been praying for the Lord’s guidance and He has been faithful to direct us through dreams, the wisdom of others and by peace. We have prayed for supernatural healing, but for whatever reason, sometimes the Lord leads us through paths that we would not have chosen. Yet, through all of this, we have seen the faithfulness of God.
We truly have been walking through the valley of the shadow of death. I think one of the reasons why it was called that is because there might have been a lion or a bear lurking in the shadows, waiting to attack the sheep as they passed through the dark valley. I remember hearing years ago that the shepherd’s rod was used to beat and drive off any predator that might try to attack the sheep. The staff was curled on one end. That end was used to pull the sheep out of a pit, if it fell in, and the other end was used to tap the sheep on the side if it started to get off the path to let it know to move back in the right direction.
Often that is how the Lord directs us. We start moving in what seems like the right or logical direction to go in and the Lord checks us or gives us a dream to let us know if we are veering off the path or in a direction that would be dangerous or not right for us.
One example of this in scripture is Acts, chapter 16. It says:
And Paul and Silas passed through the territory of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to proclaim the Word in [the province of] Asia. And when they had come opposite Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them. So passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. [There] a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man from Macedonia stood pleading with him and saying, Come over to Macedonia and help us! And when he had seen the vision, we [including Luke] at once endeavored to go on into Macedonia, confidently inferring that God had called us to proclaim the glad tidings (Gospel) to them. Acts 16:6-10 AMP
There’s an old saying “You can’t drive a parked car.” Sometimes we have to start moving in a direction, start asking, seeking and knocking, if we want the Lord to direct us. God bless you all as you seek the Lord’s direction for your lives.
In Christ ~Kelly Rowe
A Deeper Walk 