Sheep heavily rely upon their vision. The placement of their eyes enables a wide field of sight for them to scan their surroundings quickly for any surprises, particularly predators. Since their sense of security depends on being able to see other sheep, a good shepherd knows to keep sheep within visual contact of one another to ensure their physical and emotional well-being.

Consequently, sheep are reluctant to go into any territory in which they cannot see. They avoid shadows and dark places. Verse four holds more significance than we might first realize: “Even though I walk through the darkest valley”—or “the valley of the shadow of death” (kjv)—“I fear no evil.” Here, the sheep must reach for a trust beyond dependence on sight to a trust rooted in what has come before: the ways the shepherd has hitherto led them to provision, protection, and restoration. In this frightening period in which they cannot see the next step, the sheep still follow the shepherd because they have known and experienced the shepherd’s love, care, and protection.

Note how the sheep know the shepherd’s presence in such times of darkness: “Your rod and your staff—they comfort me.” These tools of the shepherd serve both protective and corrective functions. Shepherds use the rod as a club to defend the sheep from predators and use the hook of the staff for gentle redirection, correction, and rescue if a sheep wanders or falls into an area seemingly out of the shepherd’s reach.

We all have times in our lives when we cannot see what comes next or feel we are surrounded by darkness. If we rely upon sight alone, despair threatens to engulf us. Jesus, our Good Shepherd, calls us to a conviction of things presently unseen—a conviction that our Shepherd’s guiding influence reaches beyond mere sight.