Valley Plan

Ps.23:⁴ (NKJV) “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death…” [with emphasis]

The valley looks like death, it is a shadow, but it is not death. You may think that situation is going to kill you or that you have come to the end. But it will not kill you and it is not the end. It looks like it, it smells like it, it tastes like it, but it is not death. It is a shadow. About the enemy, the Bible says he is like a lion, but he is not a lion. You need to know that. Sometimes, the path the shepherd leads the sheep on, goes through valleys so deep that the sun light is actually blocked out. There are certain paths that God will take you through, that even when it is day time, it is really dark. The dark path sends a panic signal to the sheep. Sheep do not like darkness because that is when the hyenas, foxes, and wolves come out. Some of us are actually in a place where everything looks dark and we have begun to panic. God is saying to you today, do not panic.

God takes His sheep through the darkest valley for a couple of reasons. Sometimes, it is a necessary path. Why did the Jews have to go through the Red Sea? From the map, it is clear that they did not have to go through the Red Sea but there was no G.P.S. technology available them. Sometimes, God will use the limitation of our knowledge to lead us through the path that will do us the most good. If they had G.P.S., some of them would definitely have attempted to chart their own course through the wilderness. Remember how the sheep always thinks it can find its own way without the shepherd? But they had to follow God and He led them as the pillar of cloud in front, the Shepherd of His flock, the pillar of fire behind, the Protector of His flock.

God took Israel through the Red Sea; they walked through it on dry ground. So, they experienced the sea open before them and close behind them. That experience imprinted in their minds that there was no going back to Egypt. God takes us through the darkest valley, so that by the time we are out, we are able to assess what God has taken us through and resolve never to go back to Egypt. God as the Master Shepherd, sometimes uses such experiences to give us deliverance from Egypt. Does your current location look like a valley – dark, dingy, and scary? Can you feel the wild dogs, the foxes, and the hyenas roving around? I have good news for you from God’s Word through David. David did not say, “though I pitch a tent in the valley”, he said, “though I walk through the valley…” [with emphasis]. You might be going through a valley situation, but you are not going to remain in the valley. You will come out on the other side, in Jesus Name.

Prayer [song]: You made a way when our backs were against the wall and it looked as if it was over. You made a way and we’re standing here only because You made a way. Amen