Becoming While Breaking: What God Builds in the Valley

 

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
— Romans 8:18 

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”
— Psalm 23:4 

We don’t get to skip the valleys in life. We walk through them.

But we’re never asked to walk them alone.

When the nights grow long and hope feels far off, two powerful scriptures come alongside us like steady companions: Romans 8:18, which looks ahead to glory, and Psalm 23, which anchors us in God’s nearness. Together, they remind us that every valley has a purpose, and every trial has an endpoint — one that ends not in defeat, but in divine beauty.

Let’s explore how these verses meet us in the suffering, walk us through the shadow, and lead us toward glory.

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1. “I consider…” — Choosing to Look Through the Eyes of Faith (Romans 8:18)

Paul is making a declaration, not just a feeling. “I consider…” means he has weighed the pain against the promise and decided that the promise wins.

David makes a similar declaration in Psalm 23:1: “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.” It’s a bold statement of trust in the middle of lack and uncertainty. It’s saying: Even here, in the dark, I choose to trust that He will provide.

Faith is not denying the valley. Faith is walking through it with God’s hand in yours, eyes fixed on what He has spoken.

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2. “The sufferings of this present time…” — God Doesn’t Minimize Your Pain (Romans 8:18)

Paul isn’t glossing over hardship. He lived it. So did David. Psalm 23:4 names it plainly: “the valley of the shadow of death.” Not the valley of inconvenience. Not the valley of mild discomfort. But death’s shadow—a place where fear, grief, and despair linger.

And yet, David says, “I will fear no evil.” Why?

Because God doesn’t just meet us after the valley. He walks through it with us. His rod and staff comfort us—not by removing the valley, but by reminding us of His presence in it.

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3. “Are not worthy to be compared…” — What We See Now Is Not the Whole Story (Romans 8:18)

The weight of suffering is real. But the weight of glory? It’s eternal. Paul isn’t just comparing scales; he’s saying that our present grief can’t even hold a candle to what’s coming.

Psalm 23 affirms this, too. In verse 5, we see a table prepared in the presence of our enemies. That’s future hope breaking into present struggle. God doesn’t just promise restoration later. He begins it now, even as trials still surround us.

But it doesn’t stop there. Verse 6 is a direct echo of Romans 8’s promise: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Glory is coming. Not just momentary relief, but forever dwelling in God’s presence.

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4. “Shall be revealed in us…” — Glory Isn’t Just Around Us. It Will Be In Us. (Romans 8:18)

God isn’t just writing a better ending — He’s forming a new creation within us.

Psalm 23 speaks to this internal transformation as well. The valley doesn’t leave David unchanged. He walks out knowing God more deeply. The Shepherd becomes personal: “You are with me.” Not just the Shepherd. My Shepherd.

Suffering clarifies who God is. It deepens our dependence, tenderizes our hearts, and tunes our ears to His voice. Glory isn’t just waiting after the valley — it’s already beginning to form in the valley.

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5. When You’re Still in the Valley…

If you’re still in the thick of it—grieving, weary, confused—these promises are for you:

• You are not alone. “You are with me.” (Ps. 23:4)

• This pain will not last forever. “The glory to be revealed…” (Rom. 8:18)

• Your Shepherd is guiding you, even when you can’t feel it.

• The story isn’t over.

Keep walking. The Shepherd who leads you through the valley is also the King who prepares a table and promises a forever home.

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Final Thoughts: When Psalm 23 Meets Romans 8

Psalm 23 reminds us that God is present in our pain.
Romans 8 reminds us that our pain has a purpose.

Together, they speak a powerful truth:
You are seen. You are held. And glory is coming.

Your valley may be deep, but your Shepherd is deeper still. And the glory being formed in you — through every tear, every prayer, every step of faith in the dark — is a reflection of His love and promise.

Let this be your heart’s whisper in the valley:

“This will not last forever.
He is with me.
And glory is coming.”