The Inevitable Valley

(Warning: No Exit in Site...Yet)

If you're reading this, the word 'valley' resonates with you somehow.

Maybe you thought of a camping trip, hiking trail, rafting or canoeing adventure.

Maybe you immediately felt connected to the word because that's where you are right now, as a holistic being.

Maybe you've been here for a while, or just got here, or have scaled the cragged walls to get out. And you've looked, climbed, waited, and there's simply NO.WAY.OUT.

At least from what you know about your valley.

But....

What if this valley was built for you?

What if this valley was designed with you in mind, as the centerpiece?

I have a lot of ideas about what's going through your head right now so I'm not going to list them all. Typically we associate valleys as beautiful, with dangerous cliff edges to the bottom, too far down to really explore sometimes but nice to look at. Or a good place to camp for a little bit, pass through, but NOT STAY.

Think about the bottom of the valley. The risks. Rockslides, rising water lines, limited access to resources. And from a strategic point of view, the worst place to be in a battle.

The valley is where you're most vulnerable.

You're a sitting duck.

Exposed on all sides with no where to hide.

But what if the valley was designed that way on purpose?

What if this valley was built for you?

Life has mountain tops and peaks. As humans, we gravitate towards the peaks. Because that's where we feel the best, feel most accomplished, successful.

And UNTOUCHABLE.

Notice though, all of those positive associations are based on feelings.

And if we followed our feelings all the time, we'd never get anywhere (but that's a conversation for another time.)

And the hard truth...before the mountain top, there is ALWAYS a valley.

Valleys are an inevitable part of the journey.

Whether we fell into the valley, stumbled, made choices that caused us to fall in from Grand Canyon Heights and shatter into a million pieces, or simply the around the bend and needing to be traveled through to continue on your Designed trail, we face the valley.

There's a song referring to the valley as 'the Shadow of Death.' You might be thinking of Death Valley.

My son is walking through '...the Valley of the Shadow of Death.' At an astounding 8 years old, he was diagnosed with brain cancer in September 2025. His Designed valley is literally in the Shadow of Death.

Which means I am too. Our family was radically launched off of path by raging forces, and we all fell down in the valley.

Broken, battered, hopeless, concussed, angry, trying to get our bearings, and thinking what the F*#!@ just happened.

As the dust settled, I began to look around. And cry. And look up. And look down. And around.

And realized that valleys offer a different life perspective.

The valley offers rare gems that can only be gathered and reached at rock bottom.

Humility, vulnerability, honesty, grace, acceptance, unhurriedness, hope.

The valley also offers dangers that can only be experienced at rock bottom.

Hopelessness. The Depths of Despair. Vulnerability.

Surviving in the valley takes constant watching, observing, listening, waiting.

To avoid being swept away in the rising waters, to find a cleft in the rock when the thiefs come and shoot their arrows from above, taking cheap and easy shots meant to wound us, disabling us to ever leave the valley.

As the fear, worry and full on panick attacks start to hit me, I start repeating a song a I know by heart. A song I use when I'm not in the valley, but happily walking on a protected no-sloped, easy path.

And as I'm saying the words, I realize the song is more powerful in the valley.

He is my shepherd, I don't need anything. He makes me lie down in safety, leads me by calm waters. He's restoring my very being, my soul. He's purposefully designed this valley for me to be with Him. And when I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, He's with me, my guide, protecting me, and I don't need to fear. ANYTHING. He's preparing my place of safety when my enemies come. He chooses me, in my most vulnerable, angry, bitter, hopeless state. Goodness and mercy are following me, even in the valley. AMEN.

All of the verses in the song, Psalm 23, happen anywhere on our journey.

We aren't left in the valley to fend for ourselves.

He's still the Shepherd in the valley.

He left his mountain top experience to find us in the valley, to protect us, to save us, to experience hope in the valley.

Not when we're out of the valley and safe. When we're in the valley of the shadow of death.

No, I don't think He designed my son for cancer, that he gave my son cancer. Nor do I think or believe he made your valley.

But I do believe He know valleys happen.

Because of the way of the world, valleys are inevitable, in whatever form, however we end up there. Valleys WILL happen.

And so He designed the valley for you. To survive, to learn about yourself, learn about Him.

So that the valley isn't for nothing. Your suffering isn't for nothing.

This is a hard truth.

And the hard truth, not my truth, THE hard truth is that we have the freedom of choice.

We don't HAVE to do anything when we're in the valley.

But we need to follow the Guide, the shepherd if we want to find the gems while we're down here, to find the way out.

In the midst of the rising water and thiefs, the extreme vulnerability to all elements, the valley isn't hopeless. The shepherd is coming for you, He knows exactly where you are. He sees how stuck you are. He feels your pain through your screams.

And when you're ready, guide you out of the valley.

So, what is your valley?

What was your valley?

How's valley life going for you? Well? Not well?

Do you know you're seen? Do you know your relentless screams and hopelessness are heard?

You are seen in the valley. You are heard in the valley. Your valley was designed for you.

Will you let the shepherd guide you out?