Are you in a Valley? A valley is any season when you feel a sense of lonliness, abandonment, fear, doubt, being forsaken, etc. A valley is any season when you are feeling negative (low) in your spirit, heavy, weary and usually those seasons are accompanied by strains in relationships, a desire to not really be involved with others, even going to church seems like a chore.
Today, I want to share some simple steps to take while you’re in the valley to help with the season.
Psalm 23:4 says, “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.”
God uses the Psalmist to show us 3 Confessions to make, and God also reveals some wonderful revelation about how we should think when we’re in a valley, to get us through the valley as quickly as possible. The confessions of faith are:
I Will Fear No Evil
Our first confession in any valley addresses our attitude. Fear is a response, an attitude. We must first renounce fear when we are in a valley. We must always remember that God has not given us a spirit of fear. He’s given us a spirit of power, of love, and of a sound mind (see 2 Timothy 1:7). Fear is “anti-faith.” Fear is saying what Satan says. Faith is saying what God says. So, in any valley, it’s vital for us to renounce the word of the enemy and verbalize, sing, declare, shout, etc the Word of God.
Confess out loud right now: ‘I WILL NOT FEAR. I HAVE NO FEAR. THE WORD OF GOD IS MY STRENGTH, AND THE WORD OF GOD IS MY CONFESSION.”
You (Jesus) are with me
God says to us, “I will never leave you or forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). While in any valley, we can invoke the “Presence Covenant.” Know this, whether you feel God or not, He is absolutely with you, and He wants to make His Presence known to you. This is the greatest news of the Gospel, we have been reconciled to God through the shed Blood of Jesus Christ, and His Presence is with us.
Now, even if you’re in a valley and feel forsaken, confess, outloud: “I KNOW JESUS ABIDES WITH ME. LORD, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH ME, RIGHT NOW, WHETHER I FEEL YOU OR NOT. I KNOW YOU ARE WITH ME. JESUS, PLEASE MAKE YOUR PRESENCE KNOWN TO ME; I KNOW YOU ARE WITH ME.”
Your Rod and Staff Comfort Me
The rod and staff are images of a shepherd’s ability to both guide and correct. While you are in a valley, this is the most precious time to be purged of sin. Allow the Good Shepherd, Jesus, to come to you today in the middle of a valley and guide you and correct you. Look for His Hand to begin to touch sensitive areas. The valley is a place of purging and trying. You may feel yourself feeling burned, angry, bitter, unforgiving, etc. These are all things that a valley will burn up. These are all feelings that will be pulled up and out while you’re in a valley. While you’re on a mountain top, you’re less likely to have these responses, but the Valley is when you begin to feel all the ick of the world and the sins that must be purged. His rod and staff will guide and correct, and THUS BRING GREAT COMFORT. The more this stuff is purged and gotten rid of, the more room is made for peace and joy. Let it happen.
Confess this: “Jesus, thank you for being such a good shepherd in my valleys. Lead me on. Correct me, purge me, and make me pure. While I’m here, have your perfect way.”
Developing Your Faith 