“Your Shepherd through Valleys of Fear,” For the Strength of Youth, Mar. 2024.
Strength against Anxiety and Fear
Your Shepherd through Valleys of Fear
In anxious moments, we can listen for the voice of our Shepherd.
The Lord Is My Shepherd, by Yongsung Kim; courtesy of Havenlight
One of the most well-known chapters of scripture is Psalm 23. Faithful people around the world from many religions continue to find comfort in these verses written so many years ago.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
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.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Have you ever been around sheep? They’re a bit jumpy and start running at loud noises or movements. They are definitely not known for being fearless! And perhaps that’s something we can learn from this metaphor—the Lord knows each of us will feel afraid at times. There is no shame in that! It’s part of the challenge of mortality. In those anxious moments, we can listen for the voice of our Shepherd. He is trying to guide us to “green pastures” of eventual peace and safety. Here are some of the ways He tenderly invites us to follow Him.
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Study the words of our Shepherd—such as His teachings in the New Testament, 3 Nephi, or the Doctrine and Covenants. As we do so, we are spiritually fed and become more able to recognize His voice in the future.
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Imageyoung man praying
Pray to Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ at any time to ask for comfort and peace in your life.
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Accept that the Savior’s help can take many forms, including parents, Church leaders, friends, and even doctors and other professional resources.
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Imageyoung men at church
Gather with others who love the Savior, such as at church or seminary. This can connect us with a loving community of Saints who work together to follow the Savior and overcome fearsome problems with His help.
Sometimes overcoming fear is a journey, like traveling through a dark valley, as Psalm 23 mentions. Nicolas F., from Brazil, can testify that if you keep moving forward, healing will come. He struggled with feelings of failure and fear for a long time.
“I prayed a lot, asking God to take the bad thoughts out of my mind, asking Him to take away the bad feelings,” he says. He went through times of confusion and dwelt on the mistakes he’d made.
“I tried to find the power of God, but I didn’t yet feel His healing,” says Nicolas. He searched the scriptures for verses about overcoming fear and found strength in those words. He got support from his mother and others.
Eventually, one afternoon, he felt particularly whole and grateful. He realized how far he had come.
“Before I felt like I was in prison,” he says. “But now I feel like I can win the battles. As I seek the Lord’s help, I feel hope.”
Whether this season of life feels like a sunny hillside or a shadowy valley, you have the Good Shepherd, and He will walk with you. He loves you! He will help you get through this. Stay close to Him, and He will lead you to peace.