This beautiful Psalm has to be one of the most beloved, quoted and memorised passages of the Bible. The comforting words cover the diverse aspects of our lives, and if we can truly say that “The Lord is my Shepherd”, we will truly know that every need of ours is fully met, and we will want for absolutely nothing … no matter what!

Everyone goes through trials and tribulations in life. I suppose it would not be normal if the road was without bumps, hitches and diversions along the way. But then there are times when when the heat gets turned up and we feel like we are going ‘through the valley’!

Some have been called to go through a financial crisis, while other’s go through family problems. Some are suffering a bereavement, while others have been confined to a bed of sickness. The list is almost endless; because each trial brings a personal level of suffering to each individual.

Some of us may be privileged to have somebody to confide in while suffering, while others suffer in silence. Some choose to share, and others prefer to keep it confidential.

I wonder as we look around at the people we rub shoulders with each day, who among them are going through something we know nothing about? Some of them appear to have it all together, while others are looking a little tired and distracted.

Most, if we were to ask them: “How are you today?” would answer: “I'm okay, thanks.” I wonder if we were to ask them again, would their answer be the same or would they feel free to express how they really were feeling and how life is for them in reality?

It is true that rare are those folks that we could truly trust enough to bare our heart to. Few are the folks who would even understand if we were to do that! But there is One Who knows with perfect knowledge, and understands with perfect understanding the things that knowbody else knows about us.

Over the years and experiences of suffering that have been my portion, I have learned to take comfort in the fact that God had perfect and complete knowledge of my pain and suffering. And if so, and He truly understood my trials, but chose to allow me to go through them, then He had good reason for me to be right there. I did not know why in the intensity of the moment, but I was sure to discover treasures as a result of walking through the valley as it were.

I know the One in Whom I am trusting today like never before, but how did that happen? Knowledge of Him developed over the years. Times of painful waiting. Times of brokenness. Times of betrayal, misunderstanding, rejection and loneliness.

That sounds like a list of horrible things to happen… who would in their right mind want to go through such experiences? Well, I certainly didn’t, and if I could have chosen my own pathway, I would not have gone that way. However, if I had not experienced those things, then I would not know what I know today. I would never with ‘quiet confidence’ be able to offer to you a word of hope. I would never be able to say with full assurance that: “… I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” 2 Timothy 1: 12.

And as the song writer Andraé Crouch so beautifully wrote:

Be assured, my beloved Lord will never waste a spell of suffering or a tear that falls. Allow Him to teach you things that will vastly grow your appreciation of Him. Allow Him to be your Comforter. Soon you will be in possession of treasures that nobody will ever be able to take away from you. Treasures of your own from His heart to yours found in those long dark walks through the valley.

Soon the sun will shine for you. “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Psalm 30: 5. The sun will not only shine upon you, but will shine upon the valley through which you walked. Then you will discover precious things you never realised before. As Jesus was there with you in your suffering, you will be able to offer to Him your pain as a freewill offering to share with Him in His! (As beautifully shared by a friend recently).

Your comfort will come in complete surrender to Him Who will provide Himself to enable you to bear your trial and benefit from it for time and for eternity.