The Valley

“Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.” — Psalm 23

*As part one of a 3-part musical single release

One of the most comforting things about scripture is the universal truth weaved into the very fabric of its words. We all walk in this metaphorical valley at different times throughout our lifetime. Often for a short period of time. Sometimes what seems indefinitely. But somehow, we always manage to find our way back to the top of the mountain. The funny thing about climbing mountains is that while the summit is stunning, we cannot stay there. We can’t set up camp and live in this bubble of mountaintop high experiences. We’re going to run out of sustenance and eventually make our way back down to get back to our everyday lives until we’re ready to give it another go to get to the top once again. Not that every day life is a valley, but it is easy to find trouble or trouble finds us there. You could be in the pastures and encounter a bear. You could be on the mountaintop and plummet down. It’s not perfect.  It’s real life. This is the human experience. Which is what makes this short film so beautiful to me.

The heart of this story is that you’d see yourself in our main character. That you’d be called to remember the good times when times are not. That in the darkness, in the uncertainty of it all, that you’d will your soul to remember that the shadows, the heaviness, the pain… Those things don’t last forever. That with every valley you find yourself in, your heart would be reminded that there was once a stunning landscape of beautiful things along the way and that there will be again. Night may come, but the sun will surely rise. This is a constant. An assurance. A promise from our Heavenly Father. 

This short film is incredibly near to my heart. If you know me and a little bit of my story, you’ll know that what was on screen was a direct portrayal of my life the last 12 months. The start-to-finish process of this film has been one of the most emotional experiences for me as I felt like I was watching my own life unfold before me, particularly towards the end as our main character finds her way back on her feet despite being injured. The scenes cutting between the dire present time mirroring the good of what has happened before has been an honest reflection of my journey of being reminded again and again that there is hope for a return to that sacred, safe place. That there is hope to return to the place of those green pastures, still waters, and to sit in kairos with the Father who resides in eternity. To run in the fields wild and free, free from fear, anxiety, hurt, heartache. There is hope for a better tomorrow. And I have a sneaking suspicion that that might be your story too.

We may stumble. We may fall. We may find ourselves strayed from the intended path. We may run. We might even try to run far, far away. We may get hurt in the process. But we can’t outrun the Father’s love for us. And though we get wounded along the way, wounds will eventually heal.

My prayer is that wherever you find yourself at in your journey, in your season right now, that you would be reminded of the Father’s great love for you. That even if it feels like it’s dark, heavy, lonely, unbearable, this does not last forever. It will pass. God’s got you. He will not let you go. You’ll be okay. And as you make your way back to the summit, though you may currently be in the valley, may your song arise out of the ascent.