2. Psalm 23:1-6

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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…”

8. 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.”

9. 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)

10. 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.”

11. 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

12. 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.”

13. 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

14. 1 Peter 1: 6-7
“At the present you may be temporarily harassed by all kinds of trials.”

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

16. 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.

17. 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

18. 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.”

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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.”

22. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

23. 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,

24. 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.

25. 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.”

26. 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.”

27. 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.”

28. 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

29. 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.”

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