Through the Valley: Choosing Faith When Everything Falls Apart

I’ve often shared the beautiful parts, the highlights, the ventures, the photos where I’m smiling, looking composed, and showing up as my best self. From the outside, it might seem like my life is all put together. But the truth? It’s not.

These last few weeks have been some of the most difficult of my life. I won’t go into details, but what I will say is this: sometimes life hits so hard that it feels like you’re walking through the valley of the shadow of death. You can’t see a way forward. Everything seems to be crumbling.

Yet the scripture says:
“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.” — Psalm 23:4 (KJV)

That last part, I will fear no evil has been my anchor. It reminds me that I serve a God who is greater than every problem, bigger than every fear, and faithful beyond my imagination.
Faith is a mystery sometimes.

The Bible defines it this way:
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)

And it continues:

“Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)

So yes, it sounds crazy to trust God when you are faced with crazy challenges like deportation. But I’m telling you from the deepest part of my heart: dare to trust God anyway.

Earlier this week, during the Hallelujah Challenge, God spoke clearly to me:
“Don’t give up on Me.”

I wrote it down and decided to hold on to that word. Tonight, I went for a vigil, and to be honest, I almost didn’t go. I had plans for tomorrow, I was tired, and part of me just wanted to stay home. But I felt a pull. I knew God had a word for me.

Before I went, I prayed a simple prayer:

“God, if You’re truly speaking through this servant, let them say something that only You and I would know, not everything, just something unmistakable.”

And He did. Right there, in that room, through someone who didn’t know my story, God confirmed His word to me. It was His gentle way of saying, “I see you. I’ve got you.”

There’s a verse that came alive for me in that moment:
“Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”Jeremiah 33:3 (KJV)

That’s why I’m writing this, to encourage anyone who might be where I was: sitting at home, feeling overwhelmed, maybe throwing a quiet pity party. Please hear me, that’s not the way forward.

When you make the decision to step out, to pray, to fellowship, to sit in God’s presence. You open the door for healing, for clarity, and for faith to rise again. Sometimes all you need to do is show up.
“For where two or three gather in My name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:20 (NIV)

So tonight, I want you to say it out loud with me:
“I believe.”

Say it again:

“I believe that God is sorting out my life.”

In fact, let’s take it further 
“I believe that God has already sorted me out.”

Because He truly has. The Word says,
“Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6 (KJV)

That’s my posture now. I’m not afraid. I’m walking the walk, trusting that what God promised will be manifested in His time.

And if my story encourages even one person tonight, then every tear, every valley, every hard day, it was worth it.

“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”Psalm 30:5 (KJV) 

Written by Ayo