(Psalm 23:4 NIV) Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing.” I trust you have been enjoying this series and learning about God’s grace. A few months ago I set out to show you grace through the lives of three of the major contributors to scripture: Moses, David and Paul. All three were murders, all three needed grace, and all three were still able to be used of God for His glory. We have looked at Moses and David thus far. Next week we will begin our journey of finding grace in the life of the Apostle Paul. Prior to this series, if I had asked you what you knew about King David, you probably would have told me about the time he killed Goliath, about one of the many psalms he penned (like the famous 23rd psalm), or about the fact that the Bible calls him a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22). In an attempt to teach you more about David, we have covered the following seasons of David’s life in this series:
-
David’s selection by the prophet Samuel
-
Serving the king as a musician
-
Defeating the giant
-
His meteoric rise to fame
-
His friendship with Jonathan
-
The rejection of King Saul
-
Life on the run
-
The death of Saul
-
David’s ascension to King of Judah
-
David’s ascension to King of a unified Israel
-
David and Bathsheba (his low point in life)
David kept living and I could have kept writing, but I am peace with what we have covered. My point was to show you that David, a major contributor to scripture, was not perfect, and I believe I have accomplished that mission.
The last scripture I will share with you from David is Psalm 23:4. In the famous 23rd psalm David acknowledges the fact that we all face some “dark valley” experiences in life. God never promised us a perpetual picnic. Sometimes the challenges come because satan is attempting to stop us from maximizing our purpose and potential. Other times the challenges comes because of our stupidity. But either way — whether the challenges came because of satan or because of us — David reminds us to resist fear, because God will be there. He will be there to walk through the dark valley with us and His presence brings with it His peace, power and protection.
So what does this mean to you today? A few quick things.
1. We all face “dark valley” experiences in life. Just remember, when you are going through the valley, KEEP GOING! Don’t camp out in the valley.
2. God will walk through the valley with you. Whether the valley experience came as a result of satan’s attack or your stupidity, God is still committed to walking through the valley with you. He will never leave or forsake you.
3. If God walked away, you would never recover. God did not walk away from David when he committed a terrible sin and you can attest to the fact that He has never walked away from you. The Born-Again backslider who came back to God after a lapse in their commitment towards Him will tell you that God never had a lapse in His commitment towards them. The Holy Spirit was there when they were performing their sin and it was the Holy Spirit who convicted them of righteousness and led them back. If God had walked away from them, they would have never been back. We serve a God who will not give up on you!
4. Your story is God’s story. We think David’s story was a story about what he did for God. When we get to heaven I have a sneaky suspicion that God will tell us that David’s story was more about what He did through David, than what David did for Him. The same will be said of you. While you are thinking that you want to do something for God, from God’s perspective He is the one attempting to work through you. God is simply looking for you to cooperate so He can operate in your life. Will you let Him?
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for Your grace and Your overwhelming commitment to me. There are times in my life when I have endured valley experiences because of satan’s attacks against me and the purpose You have placed down inside of me. But then again, there have also been times in my life when I have endured valley experiences because of the foolish decisions I have made. I am extremely thankful that whether the pain came from my foolishness or not, You were still there for me. You never left me, nor forsake me. You walked through the dark valley with me. You never left me alone. Even when I stubbornly chose to sin, to disregard Your prompting and disrespect Your holiness, You never left me. You were there when I sinned. You were there when I went astray. You were there when I hit my lowest point. You were there every day, in every way and You never left me. Thank You Father for being better to me than I have been to You. Thank You for committing to me more than I have committed to You. Thank You for still wanting to use me, even though You know I am not perfect. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Father, I now realize that You never left because my life is not about me. My life is about You and what You want to do in, with and through me. So I am determined to live out the remainder of my days in cooperation with Your Kingdom plans and purposes. That does not mean I will not mess up. That does not mean I will be perfect. But it does mean I will be submitted. Use me Father for Your glory! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
