Psalm 23:1-6 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my

Psalm 23:1-6Psalm 23:1-6

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides 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 love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.



“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.”

“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.” Psalm 23:4Psalm 23:4

“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 your staff, they comfort me.”

“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.” Psalm 23:4Psalm 23:4

How Do I Handle the Dark Valleys of Life?


#1.#1. Valleys are _________ Valleys are _________ inevitableinevitable

John 16:33“I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33“I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”




1 Peter 4:12“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you…”

1 Peter 4:12“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you…”




#2.#2. Valleys are ____________ Valleys are ____________ unpredictableunpredictable

Jeremiah 4:20“Disaster follows disaster…in an instant my tents are destroyed, my shelter falls in a moment.”

Jeremiah 4:20“Disaster follows disaster…in an instant my tents are destroyed, my shelter falls in a moment.”





#3.#3. Valleys are ________ Valleys are ________ impartialimpartial

Problems mean that you are a _______________ Problems mean that you are a _______________ personperson (human)(human)






Matthew 5:45 “It rains on the just and the unjust, too.”

Matthew 5:45 “It rains on the just and the unjust, too.”






#4.#4. Valleys are _________ Valleys are _________ temporarytemporary

Psalm 23:4“Even though I walk THROUGH the valley…”

Psalm 23:4“Even though I walk THROUGH the valley…”

1 Peter 1:6“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a LITTLE WHILE you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.”

1 Peter 1:6“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a LITTLE WHILE you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.”






#4.#4. Valleys are _________ Valleys are _________ temporarytemporary

#5.#5. Valleys are _________ Valleys are _________ purposefulpurposeful

1 Peter 1: 6-7“At the present you may be temporarily harassed by all kinds of trials.”

1 Peter 1: 6-7“At the present you may be temporarily harassed by all kinds of trials.”

Remember these 2 principles:Remember these 2 principles:

Every problem has a ________.Every problem has a ________.purposepurpose1.1.

_____ is built in the valleys!_____ is built in the valleys!FaithFaith2.2.

Romans 8:28-29And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

Romans 8:28-29And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

Remember these 2 principles:Remember these 2 principles:

Every problem has a ________.Every problem has a ________.purposepurpose1.1.

_____ is built in the valleys!_____ is built in the valleys!FaithFaith2.2.

God’s goal for our lives is to _____ ___________!God’s goal for our lives is to _____ ___________!

makemakeus like Jesusus like Jesus

What Can We Do When We God Through the Valleys?


Psalm 23:4“I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff they comfort me.”

Psalm 23:4“I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff they comfort me.”



#1.#1. Refuse to be ___________Refuse to be ___________discourageddiscouraged

To walk means to __________ ___________________To walk means to __________ ___________________

calmly andcalmly anddeliberately take stepsdeliberately take steps

‘Will’ implies a ______, ________‘Will’ implies a ______, ________choicechoice decisiondecision

How do you choose to not be discouraged?How do you choose to not be discouraged?




To walk means to __________ ___________________To walk means to __________ ___________________

calmly andcalmly anddeliberately take stepsdeliberately take steps

‘Will’ implies a ______, ________‘Will’ implies a ______, ________choicechoice decisiondecisionBy _____________________ ________________________ By _____________________ ________________________

focusing on God’s powerfocusing on God’s powerrather than on your problemrather than on your problem

Colossians 1:11“God will strengthen you with his own great power so that you will not give up when troubles come, but you will be patient.”

Colossians 1:11“God will strengthen you with his own great power so that you will not give up when troubles come, but you will be patient.”

2 Corinthians 12:7-102 Corinthians 12:7-10

To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses,

To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses,

so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Psalm 34:18“The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and He saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

Psalm 34:18“The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and He saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

Jeremiah 29:11“I know the plans that I have for you,” declares the Lord, “ plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”

Jeremiah 29:11“I know the plans that I have for you,” declares the Lord, “ plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”




#2.#2. Remember that _____________Remember that _____________God is with youGod is with you

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.”

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.”

Isaiah 43:2“When you go through the deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through fires of oppression, you will not be burned up – the flames will not consume you.”

Isaiah 43:2“When you go through the deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through fires of oppression, you will not be burned up – the flames will not consume you.”



#1.#1. Refuse to be ___________.Refuse to be ___________.discourageddiscouraged

#2.#2. Remember that _____________.Remember that _____________.God is with youGod is with you

#3.#3. Rely on __________________ ____________ in the valley.Rely on __________________ ____________ in the valley.

God’s protection andGod’s protection andand guidanceand guidance

A rodA rod A staffA staff

#1.#1. Shadows are bigger than ______. Shadows are bigger than ______. realityreality

Remember these things in the shadows: Remember these things in the shadows:

#2.#2. Shadows cannot ________. Shadows cannot ________. hurt youhurt you

#3.#3. There is no shadow without ________________. There is no shadow without ________________. a light somewherea light somewhere

Psalm 34:19“The good man does not escape all troubles – he has them too. But the Lord helps him in each and every one.”

Psalm 34:19“The good man does not escape all troubles – he has them too. But the Lord helps him in each and every one.”

Not the _______ of the shadows but the ________ of the SHEPHERD! Not the _______ of the shadows but the ________ of the SHEPHERD!

We will go through shadows just like everyone else… We will go through shadows just like everyone else…

absenceabsencepresencepresence

Documents

Psalm 23:1-6 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my