It's clear that in Bunyan, the place described as the valley of the Shandoor of death is not,

I think, to be understood as a reference to death itself or bereavement,

but rather to the circumstances and situations that produce a kind of spiritual death within us,

and he's thinking of the loss of assurance.

Having a lack of assurance, not knowing if you're truly saved, can have a crippling effect on a Christian.

It can feel like being in the valley of the Shandoor of death.

So where should we turn if that's where we find ourselves?

I am Nathan W. Bingham, and thank you for being with us today for renewing your mind.

For hundreds of years, believe us have found John Bunyan's allegory,

the Pilgrim's Progress, helpful as they've sought to apply biblical principles to their Christian life,

helping them navigate the challenges of assurance, the influence of worldliness, and even facing death.

The Pilgrim's Progress follows a man named Christian and his journey to the celestial city.

This week, Ligonier Teaching Fellow Derek Thomas takes us on a guided tour through this classic allegory.

Christian has already begun his Pilgrimage, and he finds himself right now in the valley of the

shadow of death. Here's Dr. Thomas.

Well, welcome back in our road trip of Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress.

Last time we left Christian engaged in hand-to-hand combat with a Pollyon. That is one of the most

powerfully descriptive passages in Pilgrim's Progress, and the description of the battle and of

the allegations that Pollyon makes and Christians countercharges, let alone the fighting.

All of that, I think, is just wonderfully graphic, but it's also Bunyan being a pastor. He's

being a teacher. He's trying to explain to us something of the nature of the Christian life.

And before we move on too far in the journey, let me just emphasize something of the powerful

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