4th August 2025

Hope In The Valley

  . . . I will fear no evil; For You are with me.         

Psalm 23:4

Today's Bible Reading: Psalm 23.

William Carey is known as the “father of modern missions”. But when he first arrived in India in 1792, he was quickly besieged by illness, loneliness and poverty. Then he was deserted by his missionary partner, one of his sons died of dysentery, and his wife’s mental health deteriorated so severely that she threatened him with a knife.

"I am in a strange land with no Christian friend, a large family and nothing to supply their wants," Carey wrote. "This is indeed the valley of the shadow of death to me."

Carey’s dark valley was impossible to navigate, humanly speaking. Yet he could write, "But I rejoice that I am here notwithstanding; and God is here." Carey’s hope echoed Davids when he composed Psalm 23: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me.” (Psalm 23:4).

Hope in life’s valleys is found in the Shepherd who walks through them with us. He promises that whatever valley we are facing, it will come to an end; one day we will finally sit at the table He has prepared for us in His home (v 5–6), and what a glorious and wonderful day that will be.

If you are walking through a valley today, you can get a sense of that glorious future as you draw close to your Shepherd, the source of all reassurance. Seasons of darkness can become seasons of hope when we affirm, “You are with me” (v 4).

Prayer:  Good Shepherd, I thank You that You are with me. No matter what I face or go through, You will walk each step and each moment with me. Amen.