God of All Comfort
After the pruning comes the comfort. Blessed be “the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction” (2 Corinthians 1:3–4, ESV) — the same God who meets you in the dry places, misplaced and weary, thick-skinned and tender-hearted, and holds your hand until faith stands again. Even when you “walk through the valley of the shadow of death,” you need not fear, for He is with you; His rod and His staff comfort you (Psalm 23:4). He does not deny the valley. He walks it with you — carries you, finishes what grace began, and makes all things new. “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God” (Isaiah 40:1). He creates the stream into the cracked ground. He will guide us through our valleys and refresh us afterwards.