Faith in the Cracks – Allowing God to seep into the cracks in our lives.

The shepherd to provides for all our needs, gives us rest and leads us in the ruts of righteousness. Now we come to the dark valley. Which in looking at the Hebrew is not as much a valley as a deep crevice or gorge. The picture below is a slot canyon in Jordan. Truly you can go forward or backward, you have to go through once you are in.

By Alfie↑↓© (Helmut Schütz) – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=125844093

The image of a gorge, bathed in darkness with only the way in and a way out also reminded me of the Lord of the Rings, near the end when Aragorn takes the Dimholt Road or the Path of the Dead.

We have all walked a path like this I would venture. A time when there seemed to be no way out. A time when the world felt surrounded by darkness and gloom. Yet for the Psalmist, the way through this darkness is only made possible because God travels beside us. The tools of the shepherd, the rod and the staff, are tools of correction, guidance, and ultimately of comfort.

The image of being in a troubling situation continues. Not only in a deep darkness, but God prepares a table in front of my enemies – those who wish us harm or those who hold us back.

Think about a time when you have felt you were in darkness. In a place of trouble. In a place where you felt life was oppressive and binding. Did you trust God to be with you? To guide, comfort and protect you? What would it look like to sit at a table that has been prepared in front of those who wish to do you harm?

Until next time…