When I was little, Psalm 23 is one of the first psalms I recognized. In catechism, it was illustrated with tender little lambs in the arms of a European Jesus with light eyes. And that was the image that stuck in my mind.
There was another verse I didn’t quite understand, which I remembered as: “Even though I walk through the darkest of ravines, I will fear no evil.”
The feeling this phrase evoked in me was as if Jesus were a superhero who would come to rescue the little lamb entering the darkness.
And you, do you remember what comes up for you when you hear this part of Psalm 23?
To begin with, I didn’t even know what a ravines was… hahaha…. It wasn’t until I started listening to different translations that I heard “valleys,” instead of “ravines.” And then I was able to understand a little better.
But even if I understood the place where the little lamb was, that didn’t change my childish expectation that Jesus would come to rescue it.
In your case, do you have any expectations in your prayer about what God will do in the dark valley?
It wasn’t until a few years ago, when I had the experience of being hospitalized and undergoing emergency surgery, that this Psalm took on a different meaning for me. It came alive.
And to my surprise, God didn’t come to rescue me, but rather to accompany me.
He didn’t take me out of the dark valley, but rather accompanied me in the dark valley.
As much as I wanted to practically fly out of the hospital, it didn’t happen.
And you, have you noticed if you have expectations of God when you are in dark valleys?
Do you expect Him to rescue you?
Do you allow Him to accompany you?
It’s human to want to avoid suffering. And suffering, passing through dark valleys, is also part of the human experience.
How would you like to cross those valleys?
If the Spirit leads you, share with Jesus the carpenter what you discover your expectation is when you are in dark valleys. And perhaps you will discover a new way in which God wants to be with you.
Marisol
P.S. We can hear about being with God in suffering and in his love in the readings for the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All souls), Year/cycle C.
