Daily Devotional – Saturday, June 6, 2026
As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a spring. The rain also covers it with pools.
Psalms 84:6 (NKJV)
Psalm 84 describes pilgrims travelling to Jerusalem to worship the Lord. Along the way they passed through the Valley of Baca. No one knows its exact location today, but its name has long been associated with weeping and tears. Some scholars also connect it with the Balsam tree, whose resin forms tear-like drops on its bark. Whether the name pointed to sorrow, dryness, or both, the message was clear. This was not the easiest part of the journey. Yet those who longed to meet with God could not avoid it. They had to pass through it.
Why Every Pilgrim Had to Pass This Way
The pilgrims in this psalm were not people with trouble-free lives. They faced the same challenges and uncertainties that travellers always faced. The difference was that their strength came from the Lord. Their hearts were fixed on Him. They knew where they were going, and that changed how they viewed the road beneath their feet. The difficult valley was real, but it was not their destination.
Then comes one of the most beautiful images in Scripture. As they passed through the Valley of Baca, they made it a spring. The place associated with tears became a place of refreshment. The verse does not suggest that the valley suddenly disappeared. Rather, God met His people there. He sustained them in the very place that seemed least likely to provide comfort or hope.
The Valley with a Hidden Story
Most of us know something about valleys of tears. We experience seasons of loss, disappointment, worry, or unanswered prayer. Occasionally the path ahead seems dry and exhausting. We wonder when circumstances will change. Yet this verse reminds us that God often does some of His deepest work not after the valley but within it.
Notice that the pilgrims passed through Baca. They did not remain there. Along the way, God sent rain and filled the valley with pools. What began as a place of hardship became a testimony of His provision. The same God still walks with His people today. If you are passing through a valley, keep walking with Him. The Lord, who leads you there, is also able to refresh you.
Prayer
Father in heaven, when we walk through valleys of tears, help us trust Your presence, receive Your strength, and find refreshment in Your faithful care.
