Getting Through the Valleys, Pt. 3

We are all prone to wander from the fold and get ourselves in trouble. Many valleys are not a result of our poor decisions, but others are.

Getting Through the Valleys, Pt. 3

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me."

(Psalm 23:4)

I am currently reading through the Book of Isaiah in my morning quiet times with the Lord. I came across Isaiah 50:10 recently, and it so powerfully spoke to me this time:

"Who among you fears the LORD?
Who obeys the voice of His Servant?
Who walks in darkness
And has no light?
Let him trust in the name of the LORD
And rely upon his God."

Wow, that is a powerful verse! This might be you! You fear God, obey Him, and yet you are in a valley surrounded by darkness. The Psalmist gives a great word of instruction to you if this is your current predicament: trust in God and rely on Him!

Pastor Charles Stanley said that not only were valley experiences inevitable, but also at times, we wander away into a valley. We are all prone to wander from the fold and get ourselves in trouble. Many valleys are not a result of our poor decisions, but others are. But even in those times, God loves us and comes to rescue us! In Luke 15, Jesus, as the Good Shepherd of our souls, goes and looks for the one lost sheep, leaving the 99. The devil lies and tricks us, and off we go, taking the bait. But God has predestined us to go through the valleys and not stay there.

Here is another principle taught by Stanley: "A valley is a passageway, not a destination." The valleys in our lives are not meant for us to stay in forever! We will pass through them in God's time. Valleys are not a destination but a passageway.

I get it: when we hit the bottom in the valley, we want to get out as quickly as possible... but God may have another plan. Valleys are allowed by God for us to walk through but not stay in. Stanley shared about a painful sinus infection he endured. He felt like the Lord spoke to his heart and said, "I want you to listen to me." Stanley said that since our minds are so full, when does God have time to talk to us? He will stop us and make us slow down. He makes us lie down, according to Psalm 23:2.

God knows what it takes to create in us what He wants for us. He has something in mind for us. Walking in the valley does not mean you are being punished. We get too satisfied, and God moves us. We have walked through several valleys in my current church where I serve as pastor. This last valley has been a long, hard one. But God has shown us the vista view of the beautiful mountain that lies ahead. Being on the top of the mountain will be all the sweeter because of the intensity of the pain in the valley. The Lord has reminded me often: "Lead on; I've got you." Thank You, Lord.