Through the Valley of Fear

Though I walk through the valley…thou art with me. (PSALM 23:4 KJV)

Alexander Maclaren, a great Scots preacher of another generation, tells the story of his conquest of fear. As a young boy he took a job in Glasgow, some miles away from his own village. He stayed in the city during the week and returned home on Saturday evenings.There was a ravine on the way to his home that superstition supposed was filled with evil spirits. All during the first week at work, the lad feared most that his long walk home would have to include passing through this ravine.

Saturday night came, and there was nothing to do but muster up his courage and start home. His heart pounded as he reached the ravine. He paused in panic. His feet were like lead. Then suddenly he heard a voice calling out of the night, “Alex, it’s your dad. I came to walk through the ravine with ye.”

All through his later life as one of Scotland’s greatest preachers, Maclaren never forgot the courage and strength he felt that night when his father graciously walked through the frightful glen with him.

The Lord comes to meet us and walk the glens of fearful worry with us.