A way out of the valley of weeping

Scripture for today: Psalm 84:5-7

Some time back, I was getting a haircut and the lady cutting my hair spoke to another lady and asked, “How is she doing?”

I had no idea who “she” was.

The other lady responded, “Ok, but she has going through a tough time.”

The lady cutting my hair, “Everyone is going through something.”

I said, “I understand your concern, but what do you mean that ‘everyone is going through something?’”

She replied, “It seems like so many have cancer or some other kind of illness or dealing with other things. Everyone is going through something.”

She is right; it seems like lots of people are going through difficult times. Many people are going through “the valley of weeping.” Have you ever been through “the valley of weeping?”

In Psalm 84, the Psalmist talks about the valley of weeping. The Psalmist wrote, “When they walk through the valley of weeping.” “The valley of weeping” does not sound like a place we would want to go through, does it? “The valley of weeping” doesn’t sound like an exciting place to live. But it is a place where many, indeed, live.

The valley of weeping is real. But we don’t have to remain there. The Psalmist says, “It will become a place of refreshing springs…” Think about that; a place that was a place of weeping and sadness can become a place of refreshing springs.

Now, someone may say, “I’m not at the place of refreshing springs yet.” I understand. Sometimes the valley of weeping lasts a while. And for some, the pain may never entirely go away, but we determine, with the Lord’s help, to move along. To try to continue walking … through the valley.