A great night message from Pastor Plez Lovelady, sleep well with this tool! STAYED SUITED & PREPARED WARRIORS! -Strength for Today- Experiencing the Valleys in Our Lives Dr. Plez Lovelady, Jr. Psalm 23:1-6 Sometimes situations happen and we can’t understand why. Seemingly doors are closed on every side, but in the midst of all of this there’s that shimmering light of God at the end of the tunnel. All of us go through valley experiences in life. Adversity is an inevitable part of life. When difficulties come, we tend to wonder why God has allowed us to suffer. We may even feel abandoned by Him. But Scripture tells us otherwise. Psalm 23 describes the Lord caring for us as tenderly and faithfully as a shepherd cares for his flock. This beloved passage of God’s Word is a reminder that He is always present––loving, protecting, and guiding us. He has a purpose for every adversity He allows. The biblical principle is that we learn more in our valley experiences than on our mountain tops. Valley experiences are inevitable.We find ourselves in difficult circumstances for a variety of reasons: spiritual warfare, the hand of God, the actions of others, and our own rebellion. • Every valley is a passageway rather than a destination. Eventually, the difficulty will pass. David wrote, “I walk through the valley” (Ps. 23:4, emphasis added). • God controls the depth and the length of a valley experience. A season of suffering can seem longer if we are in a tremendous amount of pain. Suffering throws us off balance. Losing anything-- a position, a friendship or something else precious--can cause a person to wonder, Why did God do this to me? The deeper the valley, the greater the work God will be able to do through it. There, the harder the trial, the bigger the smile!! The valley experience might be shorter and less painful if it takes only a little suffering to bring about deeper surrender to God in our life. Resisting Him will typically length a period of suffering.God is more interested in our character than our comfort. With the Lord, we always have hope. You and I have the Good Shepherd living within, guiding, comforting, strengthening, and protecting us (Ps. 23:1). Sometimes people respond negatively in a valley. We will handle adversity poorly if . . . • We don’t have a solid belief system. If you and I don’t understand God’s character, we will panic in the face of difficulty. • We don’t understand the ways of the Lord. Scripture contains many examples of saints who suffered despite their faithfulness to God. • Our faith is based on emotion rather than the Word of God. • We don’t know His promises. The reassurances found in Scripture can help carry us through trials. We learn more in a valley experience than we do on the mountain top. In hard times, we are far more likely to discover how to rely on God than when things are going well. No matter what happens, the Father will provide for us: “He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters” (Ps. 23:2). God’s Word is like a rod and staff (see Ps. 23:4). Especially in seasons of difficulty, its truth can protect us from making unwise choices and comfort us in our suffering. In the valley, we learn more about the nature of God: His presence in our pain, His love in our loss, and His patience despite our complaints. Through hardship, He may strip us of pride, renew our passion for Him, refine our character, and/or purify our motives. There is a correct way to respond to valleys • Surrender your life to God. • Believe that the Lord will use this experience for good (Rom. 8:28). • Rest in His wisdom, love, and power. • We thank Him daily for bringing us through the valley. We learn invaluable lessons in life’s darkest seasons. No one can completely escape all suffering in life. But as believers, we can face difficulties with confidence. If you are in a valley right now, I pray that you will remember God as your faithful Shepherd. He will guide you through heartache and show you how to overcome in His strength. Look to Him for peace and hope despite your circumstances. If you are willing to walk with Him through the valley, you will experience God’s highest blessing on the next mountaintop.
Posted on: Wed, 21 Aug 2013 04:54:26 +0000
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