David’s confidence in the valley is not found in his courage but in God’s presence. I will fear no evil, for you are with me. The Shepherd’s presence transforms fear into trust. Evil may surround, danger may threaten, but God’s nearness casts out fear.

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Notice the shift in language. Up to now, David has spoken of God in the third person, He makes me lie down, He leads me. But in the valley, it becomes personal: You are with me. Valleys have a way of making faith more intimate. In the shadows, theology becomes prayer.

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For believers, this finds its ultimate fulfilment in Jesus, who promised, “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). He is Emmanuel, God with us, not just in the light but in the dark. His presence does not always remove the danger, but it does remove despair.