Victory In The Valley Of Weeping

We can relate to this story in a meaningful way if we will see it and the experience of these pilgrims as a story with a spiritual application that provides a model, a template if you will, of our journey of our spiritual lives today. The Apostle Paul says these stories of the Old Testament are written for this very purpose; that we might receive strength and comfort from them as they serve as illustrations of the dangers and perils that exist on our personal journey of faith. (See: 1 Cor. 10:11)

I don’t mean to sound gloomy or moody and if I do it will be for only a moment because this passage of Scripture is full of hope and encouragement. But as I have said, someone here today is either presently experiencing a trip through the Valley of Weeping, or if not now, all of us will sooner or later take a journey through this Valley of Weeping. We will experience our own Trail of Tears.

The first thing I want you to see in this passage is the fact that the Scripture says, “Who PASSING THROUGH the valley of tears….” (vs. 6).

I’m reminded of Psalm 23 that says, “Yea though I WALK THROUGH the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil.”

We don’t dwell in the valley. We WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY. We suffer the hurts, the disappointments, yes, the TEARS all the while we are GOING THROUGH. Going through implies an end of an event. It is not to be our dwelling place. Not a place for us to camp, to stay. God’s intention is for us to GO THROUGH, to pass through. “…weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning” (Psa. 30:5).

Verse 7 tells us how. Look at it: “They go from strength to strength.” We go in God’s abundantly available strength. Listen:

1. I will love You, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust. (Ps. 18:1,2 NKJV)

2. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer. (Ps. 19:14 NKJV)

3. My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Ps. 73:26 NKJV)

4. The LORD is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation. (Ps. 118:14 NKJV)

5. But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. (Isa. 40:31 NKJV)

6. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Cor. 12:8-10 NKJV)

Look again at verse 6. “Who passing through the valley of Baca (weeping) make it a well.”

Let’s get down and serious. We ARE going to face a valley of weeping.

1. A place of barrenness

2. A place of affliction

3. A place of confusion (From a sermon by Mark Ferrante)

We will feel –