“A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you” - Psalm 91:7 (NIV). 

Anyone who has walked through a dark valley will know how easy it is to lose hope because the way is uncertain. A valley looms with hills above often blocking sunlight and obscuring the pathway. The valley may also be teeming with all sorts of dangerous creatures, eager for prey. The paths might be sinew and without a clear direction with dark clouds gathering above. In the valley one can seem hopelessly lost.

But there is hope. The prayer of Psalm 91 is to seek refuge in the Lord whenever walking through the valley and then His protection will cover us. “I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night,  nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness” (Psalm 91:2-6).

Around us there are many who are walking through the valley, as in the midst of a pandemic. But when we make the Lord our refuge, there is a promise, for “no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands” (vv 10- 12).

The Bible has those instances of angels coming down to fight on our behalf. As they were about to cross the Red sea with the Pharaoh’s army  pursuing them, “Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them” (Exodus 14:9), and all were delivered. So, through the valley, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). He will deliver us.

Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, as we walk through the valley, may we take refuge in you, to protect and give us comfort, in the midst of all the darkness, for you are the light of the way and have gone ahead of us!