Even in the darkest valley, He will lead me like the good shepherd!

Psalms 23:4 NKJV
[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.

https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.23.4.NKJV

Psalm 23:4 ESV
[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.

https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.23.4.ESV

Psalms 23:4 NLT
[4] Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.

https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.23.4.NLT

Psalms 138:7-8 NKJV
[7] Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand Against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will save me. [8] The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.

https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.138.7-8.NKJV

Psalms 139:7, 10-12 NKJV
[7] Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?
[10] Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me. [11] If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,” Even the night shall be light about me; [12] Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You.

https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.139.7-12.NKJV

Psalms 3:6 NKJV
[6] I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people Who have set themselves against me all around.

https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.3.6.NKJV

Psalms 27:1-3 NKJV
[1] The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? [2] When the wicked came against me To eat up my flesh, My enemies and foes, They stumbled and fell. [3] Though an army may encamp against me, My heart shall not fear; Though war may rise against me, In this I will be confident.

https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.27.1-3.NKJV

Psalms 118:6 NKJV
[6] The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?

https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.118.6.NKJV

Psalms 16:8 NKJV
[8] I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.

https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.16.8.NKJV

The 23rd Psalm is a favorite of many. We often hear it recited at funeral services.

This Psalm, written by David, brings great comfort to many. The imagery of the God of heaven and earth, caring for His people, as a shepherd, caring for and tending to his sheep.

Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, or darkest valley, God sees me, watches over me, guides, protects, defends and goes out in search of me when I get lost along the paths of my life.  Like a Shepherd and Overseer, I always know he is there, even when I lose sight of this reality.

In the Gospels, Jesus is compared to a shepherd, the Great Shepherd, the door of the sheep. In Him we find safety, security, provision, strength, support, encouragement. Those who belong to Him are never out His sight, nor reach.

His rod he uses to ward off predators, seeking to devour my soul and rob me of peace, joy and happiness.

His staff, like a shepherd’s hook, he uses to pull us back from the valley of the shadow of death; the darkest places we may roam or run off to.

Sheep need to be led , tended to, protected, defended. They need a shepherd and overseer, otherwise they will wander and become easy prey for the wolves and wild predators, seeking to devour them.

Enter the kingdom of God through Jesus Christ, the door of the sheep. He is the good shepherd and overseer of our souls. In Him, we find God and belong to God. In Christ we find all we need to live as God intends for us to live.

John 10:11 NKJV
[11] “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.

https://bible.com/bible/114/jhn.10.11.NKJV

John 10:14-15 NKJV
[14] I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. [15] As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.

https://bible.com/bible/114/jhn.10.14-15.NKJV

N