1 Kings 20:27-28: And the people of Israel were mustered and were provisioned and went against them. The people of Israel encamped before them like two little flocks of goats, but the Syrians filled the country. And a man of God came near and said to the king of Israel, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Because the Syrians have said, “The Lord is a god of the hills but he is not a god of the valleys,” therefore I will give all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the Lord.’”
Psalm 23:1-6:
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 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 your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
3 FACTS ABOUT VALLEYS:
1) THE REALITY OF VALLEYS
Even though I walk through the valley…
1 Peter 4:12–13: Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. [13] But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.
Proverbs 27:1: Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.
Psalm 34:19: Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.
2) ANXIETY IN THE VALLEYS
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil…
3) SECURITY IN THE VALLEYS
WHAT TO REMEMBER IN THE VALLEYS:
GOD IS WITH ME IN THE VALLEY
Psalm 23:4: Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me…GOD HAS A GOOD PURPOSE FOR MY VALLEY
Romans 5:3-5: Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.GOD HAS A REWARD THAT WILL LAST FOREVER
2 Corinthians 4:16-18: So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.