Martha Olawale

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4

There are many misconceptions about the Christian faith, one of which is the notion that our salvation in Christ excuses us from walking through tough times. The false message paints a picture of a life that limits God’s presence to handing out material gains and life’s pleasures. It’s a belief system that has been ingrained in many Christians, causing them to question their faith when they face challenges.

David is regarded as a man after God’s heart. He had amazing adventures walking with God; he was God’s friend and he loved and trusted God. He slayed a giant, killed a lion, and was promoted to rule the greatest nation from being a shepherd boy. Yet, despite all his accolades, he was as broken as we are, and he faced challenges that overwhelmed him just as we do.  

I remember one night my dad had to move my mom to the hospital. As a little girl, I sat there and wondered why a woman that trusted God enough to pray for others will suffer from any sickness. My little mind could not understand how she could be so certain that God can heal anyone, while she was dealing with something so exhausting.

Looking back now after walking through many valleys of mine with God, I understand better. We are not promised the absence of dark valleys, we are promised the bright, beautiful, and glorious presence of God. David could have said “Because you are with me, I will not walk through the valley,” but he didn’t. He said, “Though I walk through the valley, I fear no evil, for you are with me.” It is not the absence of the valley that matters, it is the presence of God that makes the difference.

When I think about my mother, who is my best example of what it means to be a Christian, I know that walking with God does not mean I get a pass to avoid every bump on the road. It simply means I get to walk with God through the bumps on the road and trust Him to lift me above them. It means I have God by me as I go through any grim time in my life and I have His shoulder to lean on. Because of my faith in Christ, I have the God of the universe to carry me when I can’t take the next step and to light my path through any dark valley.