Rev. Jennifer Lambert
As a second-generation Arizonan, one might think the season of summer is a welcomed season. Nothing could be further from the truth! Summer always feels like a hard season—for me, it’s the relentless heat of late summer. Perhaps, for you, the weather matters less than the hard season of grief, illness, or uncertainty. There are seasons that are just harder than others, and sometimes those seasons last years.
One of the psalms attributed to David offers some comforting words during hard seasons: “Even though I walk through the valley …” (Psalm 23:4). That valley can take many shapes—the valley of loss, the valley of a new diagnosis, the valley of caregiving, or the long valley of waiting without clear answers. Even in the brightness of an Arizona summer, the valley can feel shadowed and cool, stretching longer than we’d like.
And yet there is a blessing to be found in the valley. We encounter others who’ve walked similar paths and carry wisdom shaped by sorrow and grace. We find companions who are not afraid of silence. Sometimes we find clarity we couldn’t see from the mountaintop. And always, the Shepherd walks with us.
Psalm 23 doesn’t promise an escape route—it promises presence: “You are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me.” In a world that often urges us to rush through discomfort, this psalm invites us to abide. To be guided. To rest—even when we don’t know exactly where the path will lead.
At Sun Lakes United Methodist Church, we walk together through all kinds of seasons. Whether you are in a season of celebration or sorrow, you are not alone. Worship, community, prayer, and support groups are just a few ways our church shows up with and for one another.
So, whatever season you find yourself in, may you know the truth of this ancient promise: You do not walk alone.