By Pastor Joe Grimaldi
“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.”
I’ve been thinking a lot about the valleys of life lately. While working on a sermon on this topic I realized that so often we seem to struggle with the testing of the valley and miss all of its benefits. Following is an outline about some of the attributes of valleys that we should understand as Christians.
Valleys can create a victim mentality
“Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men.”
Valleys can limit your vision
“But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.”
Valleys can confuse the voice you are following
“For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?”
Valleys can be cold and lonely
“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.”
- Remember that David walked out into the valley to meet Goliath alone.
Valleys can be green and fertile
“And Isaac’s servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water.”
Valleys can protect you from the storm or the sun
“And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by:”
Lilies grow in the Valley
“I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.”
Conclusion
When you find yourself in a valley, don’t be discouraged and lose hope. God is with you to strengthen you for the journey ahead. Remember that the unsaved are watching to see if your God is still God in the valley.
Let’s show them that HE IS!
“And there came a man of God, and spake unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus saith the LORD, Because the Syrians have said, The LORD is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I am the LORD.”