I Have Been Through the Valley of Weeping (Baca) Psalm 84, by L.B. Cowman (1860-1970)

Psa 84:5-7 Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them. Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools. They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.

Comfort is not given to us when we are lighthearted and cheerful. We must travel the depths of emotion in order to experience comfort—one of God’s most precious gifts. And then we must be prepared to become coworkers with Him. When the shadows of night—needed night—gather over the garden of our souls, when leaves close up and flowers no longer reflect any sunlight within their folded petals, and when we experience even the thickest darkness, we must remember that we will never be found wanting and that the comforting drops of heavenly dew fall only after the sun has set.

Valley of Weeping

Click on Image for Full-size Printable Poem

The Valley of Weeping

I have been through the valley of weeping, The valley of sorrow and pain; But the God of all comfort was with me, At hand to uphold and sustain.

As the earth needs the clouds and the sunshine, Our souls need both sorrow and joy; So He places us oft in the furnace, The dross from the gold to destroy.

When He leads through some valley of trouble, His omnipotent hand we trace; For the trials and sorrows, He sends us, Are part of His lessons in grace.

Oft we shrink from the purging and pruning, Forgetting the Husbandman knows; That the deeper the cutting and paring, The richer the cluster that grows.

Well, He knows that affliction is needed; He has a wise gracious purpose in view, And in the dark valley, He whispers, “Hereafter you will know what I do.”

As we travel through life’s shadowed valley, Fresh springs of His love ever rise; And we learn that our sorrows and losses, Are blessings just sent in disguise.

So we’ll follow wherever He leadeth, Let the path be dreary or bright; For we’ve proved that our God can give comfort, Our God can give songs in the night!