Valley of Shadow

 “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 they staff they comfort me.”

Psalm 23:4

The reference photo for this painting was taken in the winter. I stood on a path, looking toward a break in the shadows where sunlight fell on the trail. The ground I stood on and the path in the distance were both veiled in shadows, that only grew deeper as the path progressed. And I realized how often I’ve felt that way. Like I was stuck in the shadows, seeking light, answers, hope, or love from Heaven, but surrounded by a deepening darkness.

The rays of light reminded me of times when, during heavy sorrow, darkness, or hopelessness, I have felt the gentle assurance that My Savior understands me perfectly. He doesn’t always offered me a solution, a permanent fix, or a way for everything to suddenly be okay. But He does offer to sit with me, to cry with me, and to love me through all of it. And sometimes that’s enough. It’s like a little spot of light on a shadowed trail, a reminder that I’m loved and I’m not alone, that gives me the courage to venture on even as the shadows deepen. And for now those moments are enough, until I reach the end of the path where the sun shines forever. 

original completed 2025 - 24"x36" oil on panel