The Shepherd’s Care for Mothers ~ Never Alone in Dark Valleys
I know something about the valley of the shadow of death because I have walked there. When I was in my thirties and my children were still very young, I cared for both my mother and my father during their final days—just two years apart. After they died, I entered a season of deep grief and depression. It was a valley I never would have chosen. There were days that felt dark, lonely, and frightening.
Yet it was there that these familiar words became more than a comforting verse. They became a promise I could cling to.
David never says the Shepherd will keep us from every valley. In fact, he assumes we will walk through them. Living in a broken world means there will be seasons of suffering. Every mother will eventually know something of these valleys—miscarriage, illness, anxiety, or financial hardship. She may experience loneliness, the heartbreak of a prodigal child, grief, disappointment, or the death of someone she loves.
But the promise of Psalm 23 is not that we will avoid the valley. The promise is that we will never walk through it alone:
You are with me.
Those four words are the heartbeat of the covenant. From the beginning of Scripture, God has repeatedly assured His people, “I will be with you.” He spoke those words to Abraham, to Moses, to Joshua, and to His people through the prophets. In Jesus, God came to us as Immanuel—God with us. And before returning to heaven, Jesus promised, “Surely I am with you always.”
Our Shepherd has never stopped keeping that promise.
Looking back, I can see that God's sovereignty and His steadfast love were never working against one another. They were beautifully woven together. Even when I couldn't understand His purposes, I could trust His presence. He ruled over every circumstance with perfect wisdom while holding me with unfailing love.
One of my favorite scenes in Sammy and His Shepherd2 beautifully illustrates this truth.
As Sammy and Precious journey toward the high country with its lush green pastures, they must first pass through a dark valley. Precious is still weak from her former life. Soon she cannot keep up with the flock, and fear begins to overwhelm her.
“What if they leave me and I get lost?” she wonders.
But the Shepherd has never lost sight of her. He comes back. He gently gathers her into His strong arms and carries her until she has strength again.
Every time I read that scene, it brings tears to my eyes—not simply because it is a beautiful story, but because I have known those strong arms myself. There were seasons when I no longer had the strength to keep walking, yet the Shepherd faithfully carried me. He never abandoned me, and He never failed me.
Perhaps you are walking through a valley today. Maybe your valley is visible to everyone around you. Maybe it is known only to the Lord. Either way, you are not alone.
The same Shepherd who carried me walks beside you today. Sometimes He strengthens us to keep putting one foot in front of the other. Sometimes He lovingly carries us for a season. Either way, His covenant promise remains unchanged: “I am with you.”
As mothers, our valleys often become the places where our children learn the deepest truths about God. They don't need to see a mother who never struggles; they need to see a mother who knows where to turn when she struggles.
Invite your children into honest prayers. Let them hear you thank God for His faithfulness even as you ask Him for help. Tell them the stories of how He has carried your family in the past. Fill your home with His Word when emotions seem louder than truth. Continue gathering with God's people for worship, even when your heart feels heavy, because worship reminds us that our Shepherd has not changed, even when our circumstances have.
As your children watch you cling to God's promises, they will learn that hope is not found in easy circumstances but in the faithful presence of the Shepherd. The mother who shepherds her children is herself being carried by the Good Shepherd.
LIFE-GIVING ENCOURAGEMENT
As you think about the valleys God has brought you through—or the one you may be walking through today—where have you experienced His faithful presence most clearly? How might your own story of God's faithfulness become a source of hope for your children?
PRAYER
Father, thank You that Your greatest gift is Your presence. Thank You for Your covenant promise that You will never leave nor forsake Your people. When I walk through dark valleys, remind me that I do not walk alone. Help me to trust Your sovereign love, cling to Your promises, and let my children see that my hope is found in You. Thank You for carrying me when I have not had the strength to walk on my own. Through Jesus, our Good Shepherd and Immanuel, Amen.
2Sammy and His Shepherd, writer Dr. Susan Hunt
Sherry Kendrick has served as the Family Ministry Director at Covenant Church of Naples in Naples, Florida, for more than sixteen years. She has spent over forty-five years investing in children and families through children's ministry, homeschooling, private education, and public education. Sherry is passionate about helping parents disciple their children through God's Word. She has a lifelong love of children's books and curriculum—so much so that collecting them has become one of her favorite hobbies.
For thirty-six years, Sherry served alongside her husband, Mike, in pastoral ministry in both small and large churches. Since his passing, she has continued to serve the church with a deep confidence in the Good Shepherd's faithful care. She is the grateful mother of three grown children and “Nana” to four beloved grandchildren.
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Sharon W. Betters is a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, pastor’s wife, and cofounder of MARKINC Ministries, where she is the Director of Resource Development. Sharon is the author of several books, including Treasures of Encouragement, Treasures in Darkness, and co-author with Susan Hunt of Aging with Grace. She is the co-host of the Help & Hope podcast and writes Daily Treasure, an online devotional.
Contact Sharon with comments or questions at dailytreasure@markinc.org.
