Psalms 23:4 Monte T. Brown
Introduction
God has commissioned pastors to be shepherds over his local flock. God always relates to Christians as sheep.
For those that believe that they can be Christians and not belong to a local church or not attend regularly, is the same as a sheep believing that they can be on their own that they don’t need a shepherd and they don’t need to be part of a flock.
This is just not true sheep cannot exist on their own. There is too much danger outside the flock.
You see the shepherd watches his flock, cares for his flock, and protects his flock.
Sometimes the shepherd watches the flock from a distance.
However, when night comes, they walk among the sheep.
They know that darkness brings greater danger to the sheep, and so they walk beside them, guarding them closely from harm.
During both night and day, shepherds need to defend their sheep from predators. Using a rod, they attack the unwelcome animal to keep it from hurting the flock.
If a sheep does wander, the shepherd’s staff is used to gently nudge the animal back to safety.
Passing Through Dark Valleys
How to Deal With Adversity
I have a riddle for you this morning.
What do you get in a land where all you have is sunshine every day and no rain?
Do you know what you get? You get a desert.
In order to have green lush vegetation - you must have rain.
Storms must come. Rain must fall.
In order for lush green valleys, you must have rain.
That is true in nature and it is true in our lives too.
In the Bible there are many valleys that are viewed as problems.
In our lives there are many valley that bring us problems.
Joshua talks of about the Valley of Calamity.
Psalms 84 talks about the Valley of Weeping.
Hosea talks about the Valley of Trouble.
Even in our country, we have a famous valley called Death Valley.
In Israel, there is a real Valley of the Shadow of Death.
It is deep. It is steep. It is a very narrow canyon.
The sun only hits the floor of the valley at high noon.
The rest of the time, the valley is dark.
David probably led his sheep through the valley when he was growing up.
How do you handle the dark valleys in your life?
Scripture
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Psalm 23:4 (KJV)
Prayer
I want to give you five facts about dark valleys.
1. Dark valleys are UNAVOIDABLE
They are going to happen in life – you can count on it.
You may be coming out of one right now or you may be in the middle of one right now or you’re heading into one right now.
No matter what - dark valleys are unavoidable.
Job 5:7 says this: "Mankind is born for trouble as surely as sparks fly upward." Job 5:7 (HCSB)
If you are human - there will be dark valleys in your life.
2. Dark valleys are UNPREDICTABLE
You cannot plan them or time them.
Dark valleys are unscheduled.
They usually come at the worst time – when you do not have time for them and are unprepared for them.
Have you ever had a flat tire at a good time?
Usually they come when we have to be somewhere and are running late.
Look at what Jeremiah 4:20 says:
"Disaster after disaster is reported, for the whole land is destroyed. Suddenly my tents are destroyed, my tent curtains, in a moment." Jeremiah 4:20 (HCSB)
Missed work for several days because of illness?
In a moment - at an unpredictable time - dark valleys show up.
What can you do Dark valleys are UNPREDICTABLE
You have to trust in the direction of our chief shepherd our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
3. Dark valleys are IMPARTIAL
No one is immune.
No one escapes the problems of life.
Everyone has problems – good people and bad people.
Problems do not care how good or bad you are.
One of the first reactions most of us have is to ask the question, “Why me?”
The real question we should be asking is, “Why not me?”
Do you think you should be exempt from problems? Problems happen to everyone – including you. Matthew 5:45 says this:
"He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." Matthew 5:45 (HCSB)
Why do we think we should be exempt from problems?
The good news is:
Dark valleys may be IMPARTIAL but our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is not.
4. Dark valleys are TEMPORARY
They have an end. They do not last forever.
They are not our permanent residence.
When you are in a dark valley sometimes, we think we are in a cave that has no way out.
You are not – dark valleys are like a tunnel - there is light at the other end.
Troubles in your life do not come to stay – they come to pass. 1 Peter 5:10 says:
"The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good." 1 Peter 5:10 (MSG)
Even if you live 80 or 90 years and have problems all your life – that is so insignificant compared to the thousands and millions of years you have in Heaven – problem free.
Five minutes in a dentist chair getting a root cannel can seem like eternity – but in reality, it is but a short time, which produces a great result – good healthy teeth.
Problems are temporary – heaven is eternal
5. Dark valleys have a PURPOSE
God has a reason for taking you through dark valleys.
Whether you have a valley full of doubt, despair, discouragement, or defeat – God has a reason behind it.
We think that valleys are unnatural – they are not – they are a natural part of the landscape.
There are financial valleys, relationship valleys, emotional valleys, all kinds of valleys in our lives.
Will get through them in time:
Look at what 1 Peter 1:6-7 says: "You rejoice in this, though now for a short time you have had to be distressed by various trials so that the genuineness of your faith—more valuable than gold, which perishes though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 1:6-7 (HCSB)
This verse tells me two things.
Every problem has a purpose.
The small problems or the big problems all have a purpose.
They are there to help shape you.
As metal is put into, the fire to make it pliable – so we go through problems is life.
The fire heats the metal so it can be shaped and made useful.
The sudden change in temperature, tempers the steel and makes it stronger.
So it is with us when we are under the shepherd hood of Christ. He takes that Dark Valley and use it to our Faith.
How do you know if you will be faithful unless you are faced with unfaithfulness?
How do you know how much endurance you have unless you have to face tough times?
How do you know if you can trust God in difficult times – unless you go through tough times?
God’s goal in life is not to make you comfortable. His goal is to build your character. He is preparing you for eternity.
Conclusion/Invitation
I want to close with three thoughts about shadows.
A. Shadows are always BIGGER THAN REALITY.
Fear is always greater than the problems you face.
B. Shadows cannot HURT YOU.
• Have you ever been run over by a shadow?
• There is a big difference between a truck and a shadow.
• Shadows cannot hurt you – they can only scare you.
C. Shadows only appear when there is a LIGHT SOURCE.
• You may be in a dark valley right now – but there is light
at the end of the tunnel.
• The Bible says that God is light – and in Him, there is no
darkness.
• Trust Him.
• Believe in Him because:
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
Psalm 23:1-6 (KJV)
You need to come back tonight and find out WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU GO THROUGH DARK VALLEYS.
When you find out how to:
1. Refuse to be DISCOURAGED
2. Rely on God’s PRESENCE
3. Rely on God’s PROTECTION
