In the Valley
Valleys expose human helplessness and force dependence on a shepherd, because people are not self-sufficient but fragile like sheep who wander without guidance. Life’s dark passages are unavoidable, often narrow and dangerous, and anxiety rises when options shrink. The incarnate Shepherd is with us in those places, having walked the same path of sorrow and death and bringing both protection and tender guidance. His rod repels enemies while his staff restores and redirects the flock, so his presence comforts more than mere abstract assurance. When we follow him we find strength, hope, and the power to transform suffering into lasting good.