Write in the Valley of Shadows by Tina Yeager

Write in the Valley of Shadows

by Tina Yeager

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me”

(Psalm 23:4, NKJV).

Mist scarved the majestic ridge encircling our conference site. The mountains fortified our anointed space as we strengthened one another in the call to write. Moments expanded in our soul-sharing circles, lending a sense of timelessness to our days. The fullness of those hours weighed on our minds and limbs as a reminder of our earthbound state. Our worn dust-vessels ached from the event’s length, yet our hearts met during the closing session in lament of a week too short.

The time came to descend from the summit experience and return to life’s valleys.

I wound my way down through the foggy byways. Refreshing mountain breath vanished in an exhale and dissipated from my vehicle. Sultry air seeped in from the valley to fill my lungs. The tangle of massive forests obscured my view on either side. Shadows hemmed the gauntlet of narrow twists before me.

I faced the long road of return to busyness, uncertainty, and profound stressors.

My desk chair seated me back under the rule of clock and calendar. Emails and to-dos bombarded me. Inbox demands raged from the computer screen while a myriad of distractions assaulted me from my circumstances. Evidence of past failures slandered me from the shelves and files. I feared I might not complete commitments I made on the mountaintop.

In my stale office, I grieved the joys of elevation. I sighed within my solitude and wondered if each recent blessing might fade like the cool kisses of mountain air.

Could anointed messages flow in this valley?

The Lord breathed assurance into my spirit. His presence refreshed me far more than any mountain breeze.

He reminded me how few words grow to fruition on summits. Struggles fortify our faith and draw us together in ways different, yet just as significant, than those we experience at an event.

God hadn’t called me to remain on the mountaintop. He commissioned me to write for those who navigate shadows.

Writers fulfill their missions in the valleys. Yet we do not work this low land alone. The Lord remains with us at all elevations. With his comfort, protection, and sustaining Spirit, we inhale his peace. His presence assures us that the shadows are powerless to devastate our mission.

Lord, thank you for blessing my soul on the mountains and sustaining my heart in the valley. Please guide me to serve your purpose and fulfill your calling no matter how the shadows loom around me. Amen.

Award-winning author, speaker, and life coach, Tina hosts the Flourish-Meant podcast a YouTube channel, and the Flourish Today radio show. She serves as membership director for Christian Women in Media Association, on the marketing team for STRUCK the Series Streaming TV show, and as Director of Traditional Groups with Word Weavers International. To connect with her, visit tinayeager.com.