Psalm 23:1-6

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want 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 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.

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want 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. “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 23:4

How Do I Handle the Dark Valleys of Life? #1. Valleys are _________ inevitable 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.” “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 23:4

How Do I Handle the Dark Valleys of Life? #1. Valleys are _________ inevitable 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…”

How Do I Handle the Dark Valleys of Life? #1. Valleys are _________ inevitable #2. Valleys are ____________ unpredictable Jeremiah 4:20 “Disaster follows disaster…in an instant my tents are destroyed, my shelter falls in a moment.”

How Do I Handle the Dark Valleys of Life? #1. Valleys are _________ inevitable #2. Valleys are ____________ unpredictable #3. Valleys are ________ impartial Problems mean that you are a _______________ person (human)

How Do I Handle the Dark Valleys of Life? #1. Valleys are _________ inevitable #2. Valleys are ____________ unpredictable #3. Valleys are ________ impartial Matthew 5:45 “It rains on the just and the unjust, too.”

How Do I Handle the Dark Valleys of Life? #1. Valleys are _________ inevitable #2. Valleys are ____________ unpredictable #3. Valleys are ________ impartial #4. Valleys are _________ temporary

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.”

How Do I Handle the Dark Valleys of Life? #1. Valleys are _________ inevitable #2. Valleys are ____________ unpredictable Valleys are ________ impartial #3. #4. Valleys are _________ temporary #5. Valleys are _________ purposeful

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

Remember these 2 principles: 1. Every problem has a ________. purpose 2. _____ is built in the valleys! Faith

Romans 8:28-29 And 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: 1. Every problem has a ________. purpose 2. _____ is built in the valleys! Faith God’s goal for our lives is to _____ ___________! make us 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.”

What Can We Do When We God Through the Valleys? #1. Refuse to be ___________ discouraged To walk means to __________ ___________________ calmly and deliberately take steps ‘Will’ implies a ______, ________ choice decision

What Can We Do When We God Through the Valleys? #1. Refuse to be ___________ discouraged To walk means to __________ ___________________ calmly and deliberately take steps ‘Will’ implies a ______, ________ choice decision How do you choose to not be discouraged? By _____________________ ________________________ focusing on God’s power rather 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.”

2 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,

so that Christ's power may rest on me 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.” 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.”

What Can We Do When We God Through the Valleys? #1. Refuse to be ___________ discouraged #2. Remember that _____________ God 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.”

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.”

What Can We Do When We God Through the Valleys? #1. Refuse to be ___________. discouraged #2. Remember that _____________. God is with you #3. Rely on __________________ ____________ in the valley. God’s protection and and guidance A rod A staff

Remember these things in the shadows: #1. Shadows are bigger than ______. reality #2. Shadows cannot ________. hurt you #3. There is no shadow without ________________. a 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.”

We will go through shadows just like everyone else… Not the _______ of the shadows but the ________ of the SHEPHERD! absence presence