Renewing Your Mind The Valley of the Shadow of Death
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Nov 3, 2025 Join Derek Thomas, a teaching fellow at Ligonier Ministries and Chancellor's Professor of Theology, as he explores John Bunyan's classic, The Pilgrim's Progress. He discusses the trials Christians face in the valley of the shadow of death, linking it to themes of loss of assurance and spiritual darkness. Thomas emphasizes prayer as the essential defense against despair and highlights the importance of Christian friendship for support during tough times. Dive deep into Bunyan's insights that resonate with believers navigating their own valleys.
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Valley As Spiritual Desolation
- Bunyan's 'valley of the shadow of death' depicts spiritual desolation and loss of assurance rather than literal death.
- The passage reframes dark inward trials as a common, pastorally addressed struggle for believers.
Christ Has Walked This Valley
- Bunyan links Christian's trial to psalms depicting Christ's sufferings, showing Jesus has trodden this valley.
- That Christ's presence gives pastoral hope even when believers feel abandoned.
Dark Thoughts As External Assaults
- Loss of assurance brings dark thoughts, blasphemies, and temptation that feel self-originating.
- Bunyan and Thomas emphasize these as assaults on the mind that believers may not easily dismiss.
