Everything up to here has been about God. He makes me lie down. He leads me. He restores my soul.
Then the valley.
Read verse 4 out loud if you can, and listen to who David is talking to now.
Psalm 23:1-6 · WEB
Tap a tool, then tap words. Highlight what gets your attention · underline what God is doing or saying · circle a repeated or unfamiliar word.
Read it aloud, then give everyone two minutes to mark it in silence.
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WEB Scripture quotations marked (WEB) are from the World English Bible, a public domain translation.
What stood out?
Go around the room. Each person reads one thing they marked. If you know why it stood out, say so. If you don’t, “it just stood out” is a complete answer. Nobody explains, nobody corrects.
Your markings are saved on this device and will be here when you come back.
Walking through the valleys: the Shepherd who comforts
Valleys symbolize life’s darkest and most challenging moments, yet David declares confidence in God’s presence and protection. This is mirrored in Ruth’s story (Ruth 1:16-18), where her unwavering loyalty to Naomi reflects God’s steadfast commitment to walk with us through our valleys. The rod and staff represent God’s protective and guiding love, ensuring that even in difficulties, He is present and faithful, bringing comfort and hope.
- God’s presence is constant, even in our darkest valleys. He does not abandon us when things get difficult; He walks with us, providing comfort and strength.
- The rod and staff symbolize God’s protection, correction, and guidance. God’s love both protects and shapes us.
- Experiencing God’s comfort in our struggles equips us to comfort others in their valleys.
God doesn’t avoid the valley; He walks through it with us.
Read this one out loud.
The same truth across Scripture
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. God saying the same thing verse 4 says, and saying it the same way: in the second person, to somebody in it.
The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you. Said to Joshua at the edge of something hard, and said out loud in front of everybody.
Discussion questions
- How does Ruth’s loyalty mirror God’s commitment to us in our valleys?
- How do you understand God’s priority in being present with us in our valleys rather than immediately delivering us out of them?
- How has experiencing God’s comfort in difficult seasons equipped you to offer comfort to those around you?
Write it out.
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Let’s pray together
Read Psalm 23:4 aloud again, slowly.
Pray together: “Come, Holy Spirit. Be with us in the valley, not just on the other side of it.”
In pairs or small clusters, pray for one another:
- What current fears or anxieties do you need to bring before God to experience His comfort?
- How can we pray for you to sense God’s presence in the valleys you are walking through?
Leave space for silence, listening, and Spirit-led prayer. If someone senses a word, a Scripture, or a picture for another, offer it gently and pray into it.
Let’s pray
Breakthrough is when God’s Kingdom breaks into your reality: His healing where there is pain, His freedom where there is bondage, His presence where there is loneliness. Jesus is King; His freedom, peace and purpose are available now. Pray from that Kingdom, not toward it.
Be still for a moment. Open your hands and simply pray: “Come, Holy Spirit.”
Ask: “Father, where am I asking you to get me out when you are offering to come in?” Then: “What were you highlighting when I marked the passage?” Stay open to a word, a Scripture, a picture, or a prompting.
Pray boldly into what He shows you. Say the valley’s name out loud, and then say “you are with me” after it.
You can pray more than once. Stay present, and trust that God is at work. Take your time; there is no hurry.
Choose one. Say it out loud so someone else hears it.
Next time you gather, share what you practiced and how God used it, not for pressure but for encouragement.
The reminder downloads as a calendar event. Open it and it lands on your calendar for tomorrow morning.
Done.
Valleys are not detours but opportunities for deeper trust, growth, and reliance on God’s faithfulness.