Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Psalm 23:4 · , KJV
The shepherd psalm does not promise a route that avoids the valley of the shadow. It promises something better inside it: I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.
Notice the pronoun shift. Until the valley, David spoke about God — he leadeth, he restoreth. In the valley he speaks to him: thou art with me. Dark places turn theology into address.
Walking through is the operative phrase; valleys in his care are passages, not residences. And the whole way, the Shepherd is not ahead waving you on. He is beside you.
