THROUGH the Valley...

By Trish Ryan

Confession: I don't like Valentine's Day. The word "loathe" comes to mind. I'm not sure there's any other holiday with such potential to stir up dread and misery in so many people. I'm a little stunned we haven't banned it as a menace to national happiness.

-Little kids exchange those tiny cartoon cards in class and then (for the girls at least...I'm not sure the boys care) spend hours parsing what it "means" that so-in-so gave them the card that says X instead of Y.

-Couples have approximately a 97% chance of disappointing one another with the gifts they buy, because really, who wants your relationship represented by a pair of lipstick colored boxer shorts or overpriced roses that will smell in three days? (The 3% of gifts that go well in this category mostly come from the humor aisle, like my sister-in-law who once bought my brother a bedazzled red Speedo. But THAT would be awesome any day of the year).

-And when you're single on Valentine's Day...oh, the horror. I won't go into it in detail, but suffice to say that if there was ever a day to call in sick to work and hide under the covers with back issues of Vogue and the New Yorker until the storm passes, this is it. And heaven help you if you are a Christian, because YOU get the special privilege of reading 101 blog posts about how "Perhaps you should use today as an opportunity to thank God for your singleness, because you can do so much more for Him without the burdens of a husband & kids." (These are ALWAYS written by married moms, by the way.) Infuriating.

My first year as a Christian, I spent Valentine's Day repenting, over and over again, of all the terrible thoughts I was having toward pretty much everyone. It was like walking into a war zone, feeling like I couldn't shoot back. But here's the good news: God is IN our war zones, and He leads us THROUGH them, to better places.

As I thought about all of this this morning, I asked God, "Where is the hope?" (I didn't want to just complain, because really, who is helped by that?) He lead me to Psalm 23:

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me...

God is with you today. Whatever your dark valley is (whether related to Cupidpalooza or not) you are not stuck: God is taking you THROUGH the valley, and into a good place with amazing provision. Rest, a feast, abundance. Not a wilted red rose in sight. This is where you're headed. Remember this today (meditate on it!) Re-read Ruth. And thank God that He loves you...and has a love for you...that will be steady and certain, 365 days a year.