TUESDAY, AUGUST 25
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”
Psalm 23:4 (ESV)
VALLEYS ARE UNPREDICTABLE
The book The World’s Worst Predictions lists some of history’s all-time prophetic goofs. King George II said in 1773 that the American colonies had little stomach for revolution. An official of the White Star Line, speaking of the firm’s newly built flagship, the Titanic, launched in 1912, declared that the ship was unsinkable. In 1939 The New York Times said the problem of TV was that people had to glue their eyes to a screen, and that the average American wouldn’t have time for it. An English astronomy professor said in the early 19th century that air travel at high speed would be impossible because passengers would suffocate.
Humans have always been bad at predicting the future. And we learn from Psalm 23 and from life that dark valleys are also unpredictable. Not only did we not see Covid-19 coming but many of you didn’t see some of the dark valleys that have come your way during this strange season. The Psalmist would have us know that the dark valleys are unpredictable, but the Good Shepherd isn’t. God is always there and He’s always shepherding.
Reflection
What is the most recent unexpected valley you have had to walk through?
Praise
Think about some of the characteristics of God that are predictable that can give you comfort in unpredictable seasons. Praise God for those characteristics.
