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.
Most of the time when we think of valleys, they’re not good. In the Bible they’re meant to show treacherous journeys, places filled with wild animals and places where robbers would jump you, beat you and steal your possessions.
The psalmist uses the Valley of Baca symbolically to illustrate a difficult and sorrowful path in life. The name of the valley indicates a dry, arid region since this is where these types of weeping trees tend to grow. As people traveled to Jerusalem to worship, they would pass through this weary, “weeping” place.
We all experience sorrow and disappointment. Yet, we can find strength in the Lord. You see, when we go through those valleys, as the psalmist started off and includes in verse 5, when we trust in God, when we use God’s strength and power then the valleys can become different places. They don’t have to be viewed as bad
As I read through this psalm, I’m struck that the writers are longing to worship God. And sometimes to get to the place of worship, we need to go through the valleys of weeping and tears. We make it through the valley using God’s strength, power and grace.
So, as we move through the valley we grow spiritually stronger because we’re meeting adversity with an unshakeable faith. As we find strength in God, we see that we’re able to worship God and actually create something new.
As we experience the grace of God, our valleys of Baca become springs of blessing and pools of refreshment.
We recognize that Jesus was with us. We trust in His presence. We start to make comments like - - - “I couldn’t have made it without Jesus.” We recognize in the midst of our valleys God is with us.
We have a strength that goes beyond just what we have. We have access to a heavenly strength and that's why the Psalm says - - "Blessed are those whose strength is found in you." We believe that when we get to the end of our strength that there is a heavenly strength. There is a divine strength. There is a strength from our God that’s available to those who know Him.
Let me give you an example. I enjoy lifting weights. Sometimes when I’ve worked out with someone, we will push each other and spot each other. Make sure they can do that set. Yet, if you’ve ever lifted weights, you get to the point where you can’t do anymore, but you still have 3-4 more to go.
Your partner is encouraging you, maybe even yelling a bit, “let’s go, I’ve got you!” So, you make it through those final few lifts. And he says, “great job, that was all you.” And deep down, you know, that was all you, that wasn’t me, because my arms were dead.
In the same way, when we relinquish ourselves to God, and God takes over - - - we make it through the valley due to the strength of the Lord of Hosts. The God of the heavenly armies strengthens us and helps us to make it through the valley. God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness.
We want full control, we want to be independent, it’s one of our major shortcomings. Remember, that’s one of satan’s temptations. We try to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps, to solve our problems on our own. We want to be self-sufficient, but that comes back and hurts us in the long run.
Moving through the valley is the pathway to peace. As the psalmist tells us we’re on a pilgrimage. You may be in the valley. But your heart, spirit and mind can still be set upon God. Your heart might be racing, but your mind is set. Your soul may be aching, but your mind is focused. Your emotions may be in overdrive, but your mind is fixed on God.
We need to focus on God’s power and presence. Trusting that He is with and for us. Greater is the one who is in me than the one who is in this world. My God is going before me to prepare a way for me. His Spirit gives me strength when I am weak. I need Him every moment of every day. His word is a lamp unto my feet. It is a light for my path. His power is very real. I may be in the valley, but my focus is on His kingdom.
You see, as the psalm tells us, as we pass through that valley of weeping, what happens?
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca, THEY MAKE IT A SPRING
We may be in the valley right now but the valley is not our final destination. Understand this! It’s really important, because we all pass through the valleys. But we’re just passing through. What are we doing? Just passing through. I may be in the valley right now, but this is not my home. I'm journeying to the place of peace. My God will get me through this. And as I pass through this dry land, I will make it into a spring. That arid, desolate valley, will turn into a spring. Isn’t that great?!
Go back to the famous Psalm 23 from David. In verse 4 what does David tell us?
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and staff, they comfort me.
It’s that same image - - I may be in the valley but I'm just passing through. I may be in a difficult time, but God's going to get me through. I may be hurting, but I'm not going to be hurting forever. My God is going to pull me through because we’re just passing through the Valley of weeping.
Sometimes when you're in the middle of it you just want out. ‘Get me out God. Make it go away. Make it stop God. I don't want this anymore. Just take it away.’ What you have to realize is so often God may show you that the way is through the valley, not magically transported out of the valley. The road to peace is often through the valley. Remember, you’re just passing through.
While you’re hurting, while you’re in the valley, you seek God and make room for God to work in your life. And we trust that God will provide what we need. It's as if God says something like --- "show me your faith, "and I'll show you my faithfulness." If you dig it, I will fill it. If you prepare for me, I will show up. You show me your faith, and I'll show you my faithfulness. Make that spring!!
There are promises throughout the Bible. God tells us through James, "If you draw near to me, I (GOD) will draw near to you." You take the step of faith and I’ll meet you with my faithfulness.
If you seek me, you will find me. If you knock, I’ll open the door, make room for me, I will reveal myself to you. I know there’s some here who haven't sensed the presence of God in a long time. It's time to make a well. It's time to dig a ditch. Make a spring. It's time to say God, I'm going to stop and wait for your presence. I'm going to open my heart and spirit so I can experience your power and presence
We miss these opportunities because we’re rushing though life and we miss those God moments. Even in the valleys, we need to slow down and not rush it, as much as we might want to rush it, we need to slow down and meet God in the valleys. And when we do, we have an opportunity to make a spring.
Which in my way of thinking means we’re finding a new hope, a new joy, maybe a new beginning or rejuvenation. It’s a struggle to have it happen without meeting God in the midst of our struggle.
As we get ready to close, think about Moses at the burning bush. God told Moses, stay here, take off your sandals, this is holy ground. It was like God saying, “Moses, be still, don’t rush, sit awhile and know that I am God.”
God says - - - If you dig that well, I will fill it. If you seek me, you will find me. If you draw near to me, I will draw near to you. Be still, and know that I am God.
God is calling - - I want to meet with you. It all happens because Jesus came into the world. God sent His beloved Son, Jesus, Immanuel, God with us.
He came for you and me - - to redeem us, to help us experience His grace and mercy, to grab onto His power, and to have a relationship with us.
God never promised that we wouldn’t go through the valleys. But He did promise, we would never have to go through the valley alone. Matthew told us - -
23 “The virgin shall bear a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). - Matthew 1:23
If you're in the valley right now, you're just passing through. You won't be there forever. Our God will lead you out. He is good, He is with you, He is present and He will take you from strength to strength. Lean into Him and let His strength be everything that you need. Even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we will fear no evil. Why? Because you O God are with us. Who are you? You are Immanuel. God with us.
* Adapted from a Craig Groeschel series
