God’s Presence Through the Valley

I will never forget that day! The day I went to the emergency room with symptoms of food poisoning, it turned out I had had a mild heart attack.

I could not breathe—even with the oxygen mask they placed on my face. I was frantic, desperately thrashing my feet and flailing my hands in the air.

I felt like I was dying. As I looked at the faces of the nurses and doctors who had responded to the code, I talked to God: Father, if this is Your will, let it be so.

Then I heard a doctor say, “We cannot delay another minute! Let us take her down.” I did not know what he meant, but it felt like God was speaking.

Three days later, I came to my senses and felt a big tube in my mouth.

I was told that I had been intubated to save my life.

I also had a stent placed in one of my arteries.

Once the tube was removed, I expected to feel better and breathe normally. But to my surprise, I still could not breathe! The moment the surgeon said I needed another procedure, I was fearful. I prayed and asked God not to let them intubate me again.

The song “Hold My Hand, Precious Lord” came to mind, and I asked God to hold my hand during the procedure. As the doctors worked on me, I saw God in white clothes standing beside the surgeon. With one hand, He held my hand, and with His other hand, He directed the surgeon’s hand. What an amazing God we serve! Contemplating the valleys in life, here are a few things we should keep in mind. First, valleys are unavoidable.

Whether we like it or not, troubles will come.

But God is there with us every step of the way.

Second, valleys are unbiased. Everyone goes through them.

While we may think no one else has it as bad as we do, that is just not true! Good days and bad days come to every one of us. And third, valleys are necessary.

They have a purpose, and we go through them for a reason.

David says, “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death” (Psalm 23:4)—he’s not caught in the valley. He is going through it.

Do not get stuck in the valley. God desires to bring us through it to the other side, so we need not fear, no matter what valley we are in. Our Savior will strengthen and protect us. Amen!

Premila Pedapudi