God With Us . . . In The Valleys Series

God With Us - Valleys

November 28, 2021

Matthew 1:23

Today we're starting an advent series called God With Us. I’m hoping to use one main scripture which will guide us for the next 4 weeks, which culminates in our Christmas Eve celebration. We're going to look at the power of the incarnation. It means that God became flesh and dwelt among us.

I want us to grasp what it really means that Jesus, became flesh. That God really is with us. As we look at the birth story in Matthew, Matthew tells us - - -

23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). - Matthew 1:23

That’s going to be our focus for the next 4 weeks.

You know, when we’re followers of Christ, it’s so easy to believe God is with us when things are going our way. When you're on the mountaintop it's easy. When you get really good news, a good doctor’s report, good grades, a new job, when your baby sleeps through the night, when you get a close parking spot at the mall - - - God is so good. It's easy to sense the presence of God when things are going as you want them to go. It’s easy to say God is with me!

But it can be more difficult to sense His presence when you're in the valley. When things aren't going the way you want them - - - when you get bad news. When you're hurting. Maybe when you feel alone. When you're worried, anxious, afraid, battling an illness, dealing with injustice, or battling depression.

In reality, we’ve all been in those difficult, dark times. And I want to talk about God in the valley's of life. Because many of us will be there during the holidays.

Have you ever noticed that your life can be going really, really well. You might not be on the mountaintop, but you’re pretty high up there. And then one thing happens, and it brings you crashing down.

It can be a sudden sickness, a death, a tough conversation, it can be a call that dramatically changes your life and focus. It can go in a hundred different directions. We can’t plan for those moments, they just kind of happen.

Some of you are there right now. Some parts of your life are really, really good. Your marriage is blessed, but you've got a kid making crazy decisions. And that hurts. Or life is good, but there’s an issue with your job. Or you're really excited about the holidays, getting together with family, and yet you get a bad doctors report.

It doesn’t have to be a lot of things, just one or two things in the midst of so many good things and we’re down in the valley. And we wonder, we ask, we cry out --- where is God in those valleys?

Pastor Craig Groeschel said, “We may enjoy God on the mountaintops, but we get to know Him intimately in the valleys.” We may enjoy God when times are really good. But we get to know Him in a different way when we're in the valleys.

I want to look at a passage from the Old Testament. It’s from Psalm 84. It starts out so powerfully. It could be a daily joy-filled prayer - - -

1 How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of Hosts!

2 My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.

3 Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.

4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise!

Those are great and uplifting words from the psalmist.

? God’s dwelling place is majestic

? Our soul longs for, even faints to be in His house.

? My heart and soul sings for joy to the Lord.

? Even the seemingly insignificant birds find refuge in God, so there should be a place for me.

? God Almighty is my king. So, I sing praises to you, Lord!

It all sounds great at this point. Then we get to verses 5-7, and it’s a little weird. The psalmist tells us - -

5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage.

6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a spring; the rain also covers it with pools.

7 They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion.

So, what is the Valley of Baca? The Hebrew word baca means “to weep.” And baca refers to a type of “weeping” tree; a tree that drips resin or gum-like tears, such as a balsam, mulberry, or aspen tree. It would look like the tree was crying.