The Valley Of Blessing

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See terms and conditions at 0:01:29.360 --> 0:01:30.080 UNEs dot co. 0:01:31.200 --> 0:01:33.959 Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 0:01:34.000 --> 0:01:37.120 our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. If you 0:01:37.240 --> 0:01:39.840 enjoy today's message, why don't you be a blessing and 0:01:39.880 --> 0:01:42.640 share it with a friends, reappreciate you, and pray for 0:01:42.720 --> 0:01:57.800 God's very best in your life. Well, God bless you. 0:01:58.160 --> 0:02:00.640 It's a joy to come into your homes and thanks 0:02:00.720 --> 0:02:02.960 so much for being a part of the program today. 0:02:03.000 --> 0:02:05.880 We love you. If you're ever in our area, please 0:02:05.920 --> 0:02:08.240 stop by and be a part of one of our services. 0:02:08.360 --> 0:02:10.519 I promise you we'll make you feel right at home. 0:02:10.760 --> 0:02:12.720 But thanks so much for tuning in, and thank you 0:02:12.760 --> 0:02:15.360 again for coming out today. I'd like to start with 0:02:15.440 --> 0:02:18.440 something funny. And one day this young man was talking 0:02:18.440 --> 0:02:21.760 to God and he said, God, what's a million years 0:02:21.919 --> 0:02:25.200 like to you? God says, Son, to me, a million 0:02:25.280 --> 0:02:28.560 years is like one second. He said, well, God, what's 0:02:28.560 --> 0:02:31.760 a million dollars like to you? He said, Son, A 0:02:31.800 --> 0:02:34.839 million dollars to me is like one penny to you. 0:02:35.840 --> 0:02:38.000 Thought about it a moment. He finally got up his courage. 0:02:38.040 --> 0:02:41.200 He said, God, would you give me a penny? God 0:02:41.280 --> 0:02:46.399 said sure, just a second. Hold up your Bible. Say 0:02:46.440 --> 0:02:49.120 it like you mean it. This is my Bible. I 0:02:49.160 --> 0:02:51.400 am what it says. I am. I have what it 0:02:51.400 --> 0:02:53.760 says I have. I can do what it says I 0:02:53.800 --> 0:02:56.799 can do. Today I will be taught the word of God. 0:02:57.200 --> 0:03:01.320 I boldly confess. My mind is alert, my heart is receptive. 0:03:01.639 --> 0:03:05.280 I will never be the same. In Jesus's name, God 0:03:05.320 --> 0:03:08.800 bless you. I want to talk to you today about 0:03:09.000 --> 0:03:13.240 the valley of blessing. We all go through difficult times 0:03:13.280 --> 0:03:16.480 in life and things that we don't understand and when 0:03:16.520 --> 0:03:19.200 we're in the valley, it's easy to get discouraged and 0:03:19.360 --> 0:03:22.600 think that it'll never get better. Too often we lose 0:03:22.680 --> 0:03:27.200 our passion. But the scripture talks about the valley of blessing. 0:03:28.080 --> 0:03:31.519 That seems like a contradiction. We think I can't be 0:03:31.600 --> 0:03:34.400 in the valley and be blessed in the valley. I'm 0:03:34.440 --> 0:03:38.119 discouraged dealing with this health issue. These people at work 0:03:38.160 --> 0:03:41.640 won't treat me right. We see the valley as being negative. 0:03:42.080 --> 0:03:44.280 As soon as I get out of this situation, I'll 0:03:44.280 --> 0:03:48.600 have a better attitude. But I've learned God doesn't always 0:03:48.680 --> 0:03:53.720 remove the valley. He'll bless you in the valley. David said, 0:03:54.280 --> 0:03:57.880 God prepares a table before me in the presence of 0:03:57.920 --> 0:04:02.120 my enemies. Doesn't say God will remove all my enemies, 0:04:02.560 --> 0:04:06.320 eliminate everything this bothered me. Then't prepare the table. No, 0:04:06.840 --> 0:04:09.600 in the midst of the trouble, in the midst of 0:04:09.640 --> 0:04:13.400 the adversity, he prepares the table. He doesn't have to 0:04:13.440 --> 0:04:16.360 deliver you from it. He can deliver you in it. 0:04:17.360 --> 0:04:20.600 One time in the scripture, Isaac was in a great famine. 0:04:20.760 --> 0:04:25.279 Nobody's crops could grow. Land was dry and hard, no water, 0:04:25.839 --> 0:04:28.839 But he went out and planted his fields. In the 0:04:28.920 --> 0:04:34.080 same year, he received a one hundredfold return. God didn't 0:04:34.120 --> 0:04:37.039 have to deliver him from the famine. He blessed him 0:04:37.240 --> 0:04:39.800 in the midst of the famine. You may be in 0:04:39.880 --> 0:04:43.000 a valley right now, fighting a battle in your health, 0:04:43.440 --> 0:04:47.960 in your finances, in a legal situation. God knows how 0:04:48.000 --> 0:04:53.040 to turn that battlefield into your blessing field. Don't complain 0:04:53.240 --> 0:04:56.840 about the valley. There's a blessing in that valley. It 0:04:56.920 --> 0:04:59.920 wasn't sent to harm you, It was sent to increase. 0:05:00.160 --> 0:05:03.320 You need to get ready. It's not going to stay 0:05:03.400 --> 0:05:06.520 a valley of defeat. It's about to turn to a 0:05:06.600 --> 0:05:12.120 valley of victory. What you think is a valley of disappointment, loss, heartache, 0:05:12.560 --> 0:05:15.840 God is going to turn to a valley of new beginnings, 0:05:16.279 --> 0:05:20.080 a valley of greater fulfillment. Or perhaps you're in a 0:05:20.160 --> 0:05:23.760 valley of sickness. You could easily be discouraged and settle 0:05:23.800 --> 0:05:27.560 where you are. Take heart, it's only temporary. It's going 0:05:27.640 --> 0:05:30.640 to turn to a valley of health, a valley of 0:05:30.720 --> 0:05:34.320 greater strength. God has you in the palm of his hand. 0:05:35.040 --> 0:05:38.160 He promised the number of your days He will fulfill 0:05:38.920 --> 0:05:42.159 don't be fooled by the valley. Like Isaac, it's about 0:05:42.200 --> 0:05:45.680 to turn to a valley of breakthroughs, a valley of abundance, 0:05:45.720 --> 0:05:49.760 a valley of victory. It's a valley of blessing. This 0:05:49.800 --> 0:05:52.440 is what happened in the scripture to the people of Judah. 0:05:52.720 --> 0:05:56.680 They were surrounded by three major armies who were quickly 0:05:56.760 --> 0:05:59.680 closing in on them. In the natural, they didn't have 0:05:59.680 --> 0:06:04.039 a chain. They were out numbered ten to one. Jehosiphat 0:06:04.200 --> 0:06:08.560 the king, he called everyone together to pray. All these 0:06:08.600 --> 0:06:13.240 people stood before him, husbands, wives, little children. You can 0:06:13.279 --> 0:06:17.080 imagine how worried, how concerned their lives were on the line. 0:06:17.960 --> 0:06:21.760 Jehosaphat looked up to the heavens. He said, God, we 0:06:21.800 --> 0:06:24.919 don't know what to do, but our eyes are upon 0:06:24.960 --> 0:06:30.039 you when you're in the valley. It's okay to be honest. God, 0:06:30.080 --> 0:06:32.440 I don't see how it could ever get out. I 0:06:32.440 --> 0:06:35.080 don't see how it could get well, how my family 0:06:35.120 --> 0:06:39.000 could be restored. That's fine, but don't stop there. Do 0:06:39.240 --> 0:06:42.120 like he did. God, I don't see away, but my 0:06:42.240 --> 0:06:45.279 eyes are upon you. I know you still have a way. 0:06:45.640 --> 0:06:50.280 I know nothing's too difficult for you. After he finished praying. 0:06:50.600 --> 0:06:53.480 A young man spoke up and said, this is what 0:06:53.520 --> 0:06:57.760 the Lord says. Don't be discouraged by these mighty armies. 0:06:58.200 --> 0:07:01.600 For the battle is not yours. The battle is the Lord's. 0:07:02.240 --> 0:07:05.440 You may be facing big enemies today God is saying 0:07:05.480 --> 0:07:09.120 the same thing. Quit letting it upset you, Quit losing 0:07:09.160 --> 0:07:12.680 your peace. It's not your battle, it's the Lord's battle. 0:07:13.760 --> 0:07:16.560 God went on to instruct them that the next day 0:07:17.040 --> 0:07:20.880 they were to walk toward their enemies. He said, you 0:07:20.960 --> 0:07:24.600 won't even need to fight, just take your positions. Then 0:07:24.760 --> 0:07:29.720 stand still and watch the Lord's victory. King Jehosaphat did 0:07:29.760 --> 0:07:33.640 something interesting. He put the musicians out in front, the 0:07:33.680 --> 0:07:37.480 singers and the praisers. With every step as they walked 0:07:37.520 --> 0:07:41.400 toward their enemies, they saying the Lord is good and 0:07:41.520 --> 0:07:46.920 his mercy endures forever. Notice in the valley, they weren't complaining. 0:07:47.880 --> 0:07:51.240 They weren't saying we'll never get out. This problem's too big. 0:07:51.520 --> 0:07:54.760 Why does this happen to us? No, they were singing praises. 0:07:55.280 --> 0:07:58.320 They were talking about the greatness of their God. They 0:07:58.320 --> 0:08:02.920 were speaking faith into their future. What you're saying in 0:08:02.960 --> 0:08:06.640 the valley is extremely important. If you go around saying, 0:08:06.840 --> 0:08:10.280 I'm never gonna get out Joel, I've got all these problems. 0:08:10.320 --> 0:08:12.480 I always get these bad breaks. Then you're going to 0:08:12.520 --> 0:08:16.440 get stuck. But when you start talking about how great 0:08:16.480 --> 0:08:20.080 your God is, how no weapon formed against you will prosper, 0:08:20.600 --> 0:08:23.360 how this problem didn't come to stay, it came to pass. 0:08:23.760 --> 0:08:26.440 I can do all things through Christ. I am more 0:08:26.560 --> 0:08:30.120 than a conquer When you start talking like that, that's 0:08:30.160 --> 0:08:33.160 when God will show up and make things happen that 0:08:33.240 --> 0:08:37.520 you could never make happen. When these enemy armies hurt 0:08:37.559 --> 0:08:41.679 all the singing, the shouting, the commotion, they got confused 0:08:42.120 --> 0:08:45.760 and begin to fight among themselves. They ended up killing 0:08:45.840 --> 0:08:49.320 each other. When the people of Judah arrived, their enemies 0:08:49.320 --> 0:08:53.280 were already defeated. They didn't have to lift one finger 0:08:53.440 --> 0:08:57.520 in their defense. Just like God promised, stand still and 0:08:57.600 --> 0:09:02.640 He will fight your battles. These enemy armies left so 0:09:02.760 --> 0:09:07.840 many supplies, so much equipment, valuables, clothing, that it took 0:09:07.880 --> 0:09:11.240 the people of Judah three days to collect it all. 0:09:11.920 --> 0:09:16.000 On the fourth day, the scripture says, they stood in 0:09:16.080 --> 0:09:19.960 the valley of Blessing and thanked God for what he 0:09:20.000 --> 0:09:24.400 had done. Isn't it interesting in the place where they 0:09:24.440 --> 0:09:29.680 had their greatest battles, their most powerful enemies. God didn't 0:09:29.760 --> 0:09:33.320 call that the valley of opposition, the valley of struggle, 0:09:33.559 --> 0:09:37.280 the valley of heartache. He called it the valley of blessing. 0:09:38.360 --> 0:09:41.880 When you face tough times, have this new perspective. That 0:09:42.040 --> 0:09:46.040 is not the valley of defeat. That's the valley of victory. 0:09:46.160 --> 0:09:48.320 That's not a valley to hold you back. It's a 0:09:48.400 --> 0:09:52.240 valley of promotion. It's not a valley of sickness. It's 0:09:52.280 --> 0:09:56.840 a valley of restoration. Maybe like the people of Judah, 0:09:57.080 --> 0:10:02.079 what you're facing looks insurmountable, doesn't look good. You lost 0:10:02.080 --> 0:10:04.840 your biggest client, your child won't do what's right. Those 0:10:05.000 --> 0:10:08.720 enemies may look big, but one touch of God's favor 0:10:08.920 --> 0:10:13.360 can turn it all around. Don't get discouraged. God has 0:10:13.400 --> 0:10:17.240 not brought you this far to leave you. Every voice 0:10:17.280 --> 0:10:20.560 may tell you that's a valley of defeat. You're never 0:10:20.640 --> 0:10:24.440 going to get out, never accomplish your dreams. The good 0:10:24.480 --> 0:10:27.400 news is you don't have to get out of the valley. 0:10:27.720 --> 0:10:31.640 God can bless you in the valley. The enemy may 0:10:31.640 --> 0:10:34.960 have meant it for your harm, but he doesn't have 0:10:35.040 --> 0:10:39.679 the final say. God does he says, stand still, and 0:10:39.720 --> 0:10:42.800 I'm going to show you my goodness. Stay in faith, 0:10:43.120 --> 0:10:47.080 and I'm going to turn that battlefield into your blessing field. 0:10:47.679 --> 0:10:50.959 What should have defeated you is going to increase you. 0:10:50.960 --> 0:10:53.840 You're going to come out better. I love the fact 0:10:54.080 --> 0:10:57.199 it took them three days to gather up all the spoils. 0:10:57.800 --> 0:11:00.360 Would have been a great victory if God had just 0:11:00.360 --> 0:11:04.680 defeated their enemies spared their lives. But God never brings 0:11:04.720 --> 0:11:07.800 you out the same. He makes the enemy pay for 0:11:07.840 --> 0:11:12.320 bringing that trouble into your life. And sometimes we're just 0:11:12.360 --> 0:11:14.839 hoping to make it through the valley. God help me 0:11:14.880 --> 0:11:17.640 make it through this dry season at work. But God 0:11:17.679 --> 0:11:20.840 says no, I'm gonna turn that valley into a valley 0:11:20.920 --> 0:11:24.560 of abundance. If you're a football fan, you probably know 0:11:24.600 --> 0:11:27.680 who Tony Dungee is one of the great coaches of 0:11:27.720 --> 0:11:31.320 our day. After playing in the league many years, in 0:11:31.440 --> 0:11:34.520 nineteen ninety six, he got his first job as a 0:11:34.559 --> 0:11:38.520 head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers football team. He 0:11:38.640 --> 0:11:42.160 was so excited. Was a dream come true. He told 0:11:42.240 --> 0:11:46.079 me how he didn't know anyone in that organization, didn't 0:11:46.120 --> 0:11:51.600 have any special inside contacts, but out of several qualified candidates, 0:11:51.679 --> 0:11:54.600 they chose him. He knew it was the hand of 0:11:54.640 --> 0:11:58.280 God opening that door. And for six years everything was 0:11:58.320 --> 0:12:02.800 going good. They were making progress, winning more games. But 0:12:02.960 --> 0:12:07.000 one day, unexpectedly he was fired. They let him go. 0:12:07.840 --> 0:12:10.720 He thought, God, I know you gave me this job. 0:12:11.280 --> 0:12:14.319 I know this was your plan. I don't understand why 0:12:14.360 --> 0:12:16.880 this has happened to me. He was in the valley. 0:12:17.480 --> 0:12:21.280 Didn't make sense, but he didn't start complaining. He didn't 0:12:21.320 --> 0:12:24.960 get bitter. He understood this principle that there's a blessing 0:12:25.440 --> 0:12:30.000 in every valley. David said in Psalm twenty three, the 0:12:30.120 --> 0:12:34.160 Lord is my shepherd. He leads me by the still waters, 0:12:34.760 --> 0:12:38.640 leads me to the green pastures. We like that part 0:12:38.679 --> 0:12:42.040 of the passage, but a little later it says, though 0:12:42.080 --> 0:12:45.280 I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. 0:12:45.679 --> 0:12:48.560 He was saying, the same God that leads you to 0:12:48.600 --> 0:12:53.280 the green pastures and the still waters sometimes will lead 0:12:53.320 --> 0:12:57.240 you to the valley. You may not understand it, but 0:12:57.320 --> 0:13:00.080 if it wasn't going to work for your good, God 0:13:00.120 --> 0:13:03.920 would have never allowed it. When you face tough times, 0:13:04.200 --> 0:13:07.520 you have to remind yourself God would not be leading 0:13:07.559 --> 0:13:11.920 you to that valley. If that's all there was, loss, defeat, 0:13:12.240 --> 0:13:16.319 too bad, you're done. No, there's a purpose for that valley, 0:13:16.800 --> 0:13:20.160 not to hinder you, but to help you, not to 0:13:20.240 --> 0:13:23.679 hold you back, but to push you forward. Not to 0:13:23.720 --> 0:13:27.800 weaken you, but to make you stronger. Now the key 0:13:28.160 --> 0:13:33.040 is our attitude in the valley. If Jehosaphat would have thought, God, 0:13:33.080 --> 0:13:35.920 I've served you all these years, I've done my best, 0:13:35.960 --> 0:13:38.079 and now look, these enemies are going to wipe us out. 0:13:38.160 --> 0:13:42.160 That's just not right. If he'd have been negative, bitter, discouraged, 0:13:42.559 --> 0:13:46.079 he would have never seen this valley of blessing. Most 0:13:46.200 --> 0:13:50.400 likely he would have been captured or even killed. Proverb says, 0:13:50.800 --> 0:13:54.520 the steps of a good person are ordered by the Lord. 0:13:55.559 --> 0:13:59.720 When you encounter a valley, sometimes it's not because you've 0:13:59.720 --> 0:14:03.120 done it anything wrong. It's because you're doing something right. 0:14:04.080 --> 0:14:06.959 God is ready to promote you. But the way he's 0:14:07.000 --> 0:14:09.480 going to do it is by taking you through the 0:14:09.600 --> 0:14:13.240 valley of blessing. We think, God, if you're gonna bless me, 0:14:13.679 --> 0:14:16.160 don't take me down, take me up. You want to 0:14:16.200 --> 0:14:18.880 promote me, don't let me lose my job. But God's 0:14:18.920 --> 0:14:22.440 ways are not our ways. They are much bigger. His 0:14:22.600 --> 0:14:26.240 plan is better than our plan. What I'm saying, don't 0:14:26.240 --> 0:14:33.040 fight your valleys, stay encouraged. Every closed door, every bad break, 0:14:33.480 --> 0:14:36.960 everything that didn't work out. That valley was not a 0:14:37.040 --> 0:14:40.520 surprise to God. It's an opportunity for you to go 0:14:40.600 --> 0:14:44.080 to a higher level. God is directing your steps when 0:14:44.080 --> 0:14:47.640 you're on the mountaintops, and he's directing your steps even 0:14:47.680 --> 0:14:50.960 when you're in the valley. And I'm not saying to 0:14:51.040 --> 0:14:55.760 accept defeat, settle for mediocrity. This is God's plan. Now, 0:14:55.800 --> 0:14:58.840 I'm saying, when you go through a valley, and we 0:14:58.920 --> 0:15:02.160 all do, when a door closes, you get a bad 0:15:02.240 --> 0:15:06.280 medical report, don't get bitter, don't live with a chip 0:15:06.320 --> 0:15:11.200 on your shoulder. Start expecting new doors to open, new opportunities, 0:15:11.480 --> 0:15:15.360 new friendships. God wouldn't have led you there if it 0:15:15.440 --> 0:15:18.280 wasn't going to work for your good. There's a blessing 0:15:18.640 --> 0:15:22.680 in that valley. And of course, coach Dungee, he was 0:15:22.720 --> 0:15:25.760 disappointed that he lost his job, but he didn't sit 0:15:25.840 --> 0:15:29.320 around talking about how bad life had treated him. He 0:15:29.440 --> 0:15:32.800 started thanking God that new doors were going to open. 0:15:33.680 --> 0:15:36.480 He knew the same God that opened the door in 0:15:36.600 --> 0:15:41.280 Tampa Bay had now closed that door. The same God 0:15:41.320 --> 0:15:44.560 that had directed his steps and gave him favor to 0:15:44.560 --> 0:15:48.600 get that job, had now directed his steps away from 0:15:48.640 --> 0:15:51.480 what he thought was his dream job. He was in 0:15:51.560 --> 0:15:55.280 the valley. Not long after that, he received a phone 0:15:55.280 --> 0:16:00.240 call from the Indianapolis Colts football organization. They said, we're 0:16:00.240 --> 0:16:03.120 looking for a new head coach. Would you be interested. 0:16:03.880 --> 0:16:06.560 They had a good quarterback named Peyton Manning. He said, 0:16:06.560 --> 0:16:09.800 I think so. He took that job, and coach Dungee 0:16:10.000 --> 0:16:13.200 went on to have incredible success coaching the Colts. They 0:16:13.240 --> 0:16:17.440 won the Super Bowl, had many other winning seasons. God 0:16:17.480 --> 0:16:21.400 turned that valley into a valley of victory. Here's the thing. 0:16:21.880 --> 0:16:25.040 Had God never closed that door, he may not have 0:16:25.080 --> 0:16:29.040 ever won the Super Bowl. Don't fight your valleys. They're 0:16:29.120 --> 0:16:33.800 leading you to your greatest victories. In the valleys, we 0:16:33.960 --> 0:16:37.720 always gain something. We may not like it, but we 0:16:37.760 --> 0:16:42.520 gain experience, We gain endurance. Our character is being developed. 0:16:43.120 --> 0:16:47.440 With every victory comes a new level of confidence, something 0:16:47.480 --> 0:16:50.600 that you'll need later on to go to a higher level. 0:16:51.360 --> 0:16:55.280 The valleys are getting us prepared. God knows what's in 0:16:55.320 --> 0:16:58.920 your future. He knows what you're going to need when 0:16:58.960 --> 0:17:02.240 you're going to need it. Everything happens for a reason. 0:17:03.040 --> 0:17:06.600 A challenge you face today may not make sense, you 0:17:06.680 --> 0:17:11.280 may not understand it, but fifteen years from now, because 0:17:11.320 --> 0:17:14.679 it deposited something in you, you'll be prepared for what 0:17:14.760 --> 0:17:21.560 you face. God doesn't do anything randomly. He's specific, He's detailed. 0:17:22.119 --> 0:17:25.760 If the valley wasn't necessary, you wouldn't be there. If 0:17:25.800 --> 0:17:29.120 that set back, that disappointment wasn't going to add anything 0:17:29.160 --> 0:17:32.440 to your life, God would have never allowed it. Now, 0:17:32.440 --> 0:17:34.920 don't try to figure out why it happened. That will 0:17:34.920 --> 0:17:38.240 only confuse you. Just stay in faith, trust God that 0:17:38.320 --> 0:17:41.920 he knows what's best, and you can be certain everything 0:17:41.960 --> 0:17:45.440 that comes your way in life, somehow, some way, God 0:17:45.480 --> 0:17:49.440 is eventually going to work that to your advantage. When 0:17:49.520 --> 0:17:52.719 David was a teenager, he went out to face Goliath 0:17:52.880 --> 0:17:56.840 in the valley of Elah. Wasn't a coincidence that he 0:17:57.000 --> 0:18:00.960 was in the valley? We see this principle. Goliath, of course, 0:18:01.040 --> 0:18:06.040 was much bigger, stronger, had more experience. It looked impossible 0:18:06.480 --> 0:18:09.440 like David didn't have a chance, But again we see 0:18:09.480 --> 0:18:13.000 God turn a valley of defeat into a valley of blessing. 0:18:14.000 --> 0:18:18.399 David took his slingshot and he knocked Goliath out. David 0:18:18.440 --> 0:18:21.120 didn't have a sword, so he went over and got 0:18:21.160 --> 0:18:25.639 Goliath's sword and finished him off. David came out of 0:18:25.640 --> 0:18:30.040 that valley not only with more experience, more confidence, more respect, 0:18:30.560 --> 0:18:35.360 but he came out with the sword of Goliath. Fast forward, 0:18:35.480 --> 0:18:39.080 years later, David was on the run from King Saul. 0:18:39.720 --> 0:18:42.320 Saul was jealous of David and trying to kill him. 0:18:42.840 --> 0:18:44.879 David had to leave in such a hurry that he 0:18:44.920 --> 0:18:47.439 didn't have time to get his sword. He had no 0:18:47.520 --> 0:18:50.959 way to protect himself. He ran to the next city, 0:18:51.600 --> 0:18:54.280 went to the temple, saw some people that he knew. 0:18:54.880 --> 0:18:57.160 He told them he was on assignment for the king, 0:18:57.800 --> 0:19:01.679 asked if they had a sword he could borrow. They said, David, 0:19:01.960 --> 0:19:06.240 all we have is the sword of Goliath, the Philistine 0:19:06.600 --> 0:19:10.800 whom you killed in the valley. Notice, something that had 0:19:10.840 --> 0:19:15.240 happened in the valley was now instrumental to David reaching 0:19:15.320 --> 0:19:18.800 the next level of his destiny. Had he not gained 0:19:18.840 --> 0:19:23.399 the sword in the valley, he would have gotten stuck. French, 0:19:23.440 --> 0:19:26.639 God has it all figured out. The valley you faced 0:19:26.680 --> 0:19:30.320 today may not be for today, it may be for 0:19:30.440 --> 0:19:33.080 years down the road. But if you didn't learn what 0:19:33.160 --> 0:19:36.119 you needed to learn. Gain what you needed to gain, 0:19:36.440 --> 0:19:40.720 you wouldn't be prepared for the new levels. Don't complain 0:19:40.760 --> 0:19:45.040 about the valley. There's a blessing in that valley. Later on, 0:19:45.240 --> 0:19:49.000 you're going to use the experience, the confidence that sword, 0:19:49.119 --> 0:19:52.160 so to speak, will be waiting for you. A few 0:19:52.200 --> 0:19:55.000 years after Victoria and I were married, we moved into 0:19:55.040 --> 0:19:58.800 a new house and we sold our old house. One 0:19:58.880 --> 0:20:01.560 day there was a knock on the door. This policeman 0:20:01.680 --> 0:20:05.560 was standing there. My heart started beating so fast. He 0:20:05.640 --> 0:20:08.400 smiled and handed me some papers and he said, kind 0:20:08.400 --> 0:20:11.800 of lightly, somebody must really not like you. I thought, 0:20:11.800 --> 0:20:14.040 what do you mean, What is this? He said, you've 0:20:14.040 --> 0:20:17.280 been named in a lawsuit. Well, the people that bought 0:20:17.320 --> 0:20:20.760 our house were suing over the plumbing. They not only 0:20:20.800 --> 0:20:23.680 sued us, but they sued the builder, the architect, real 0:20:23.800 --> 0:20:26.959 estate agent, the plumber, everybody they could think of. And 0:20:27.000 --> 0:20:29.359 we knew we weren't at fault. We didn't build a 0:20:29.400 --> 0:20:32.240 house and the plumbing had worked for us. But for 0:20:32.320 --> 0:20:35.560 those six months while we were in a lawsuit, I 0:20:35.680 --> 0:20:39.280 was sick to my stomach. I was so worried. At 0:20:39.320 --> 0:20:41.720 twenty six years old, I thought that was the worst 0:20:41.760 --> 0:20:45.080 thing that could ever happen to me. In a few weeks, 0:20:45.160 --> 0:20:47.280 I was going to have to give my deposition in 0:20:47.280 --> 0:20:49.240 front of a lawyer and tell them what had happened. 0:20:49.680 --> 0:20:53.080 I studied, I prepared, found all my documents. I was 0:20:53.080 --> 0:20:57.360 so nervous, went and gave my deposition. When I was finished, 0:20:57.440 --> 0:21:00.680 I was so nauseated that I couldn't drive home. Had 0:21:00.680 --> 0:21:03.439 to have somebody come and pick me up. That seemed 0:21:03.480 --> 0:21:06.679 like the biggest waste of time and energy to me, 0:21:07.240 --> 0:21:12.000 so much unnecessary heartache, stress. I didn't see how anything 0:21:12.160 --> 0:21:15.679 productive could ever come out of that. But in every 0:21:15.800 --> 0:21:19.239 valley you're gaining something. You may not realize it, but 0:21:19.280 --> 0:21:24.320 there's a purpose. Thirteen years later, we just acquired this place, 0:21:24.600 --> 0:21:28.560 the former Compact Center. A company filed a lawsuit to 0:21:28.640 --> 0:21:31.880 try to keep us from moving in. Now I wasn't 0:21:31.920 --> 0:21:34.919 dealing with a small plumbing problem. I was dealing with 0:21:34.960 --> 0:21:38.560 something that was critical to my destiny. When I went 0:21:38.640 --> 0:21:41.760 to give my deposition in front of a battery of 0:21:41.840 --> 0:21:45.479 high powered attorneys, I wasn't the least bit nervous. I 0:21:45.600 --> 0:21:50.440 was conveident, I was prepared. I had experience, I had 0:21:50.480 --> 0:21:55.359 been there before. I knew exactly what to expect. Like David, 0:21:55.600 --> 0:21:59.440 that sword was waiting for me. There was a purpose 0:21:59.520 --> 0:22:02.840 for that valley thirteen years earlier. I didn't see it 0:22:02.880 --> 0:22:05.639 at the time. I let it stress me out. Still 0:22:05.720 --> 0:22:09.800 my joy now realize it was a valley of blessing. 0:22:10.640 --> 0:22:14.960 Now I've learned nothing happens by accident. There's no use 0:22:15.160 --> 0:22:19.479 getting upset and letting it sour your life. Stand still 0:22:19.960 --> 0:22:23.000 and you will see the victory. One day, you will 0:22:23.040 --> 0:22:26.440 look back and see what God was up to. You'll say, 0:22:26.520 --> 0:22:29.520 like I did, Lord, thank you for that valley. If 0:22:29.560 --> 0:22:32.080 I hadn't learned what I needed to learn, I wouldn't 0:22:32.119 --> 0:22:35.840 be prepared. Or like Coach Dungee, Lord, thank you for 0:22:35.920 --> 0:22:38.280 closing that door. Or I would have never won the 0:22:38.320 --> 0:22:42.960 Super Bowl. Friends, God knows what he's doing. Every valley 0:22:43.119 --> 0:22:47.080 has a blessing. There's something to push you forward, something 0:22:47.119 --> 0:22:50.439 that will be instrumental in you reaching the next level 0:22:50.520 --> 0:22:54.400 of your destiny. Now I don't complain about my valleys anymore. 0:22:54.880 --> 0:22:58.560 I understand this new perspective. This valley wouldn't be here 0:22:59.160 --> 0:23:02.399 unless it was paring me for something greater, unless I 0:23:02.560 --> 0:23:05.760 was gaining something that I'm going to need later on. 0:23:06.960 --> 0:23:12.119 I've heard the saying trouble is inevitable, but misery is optional. 0:23:13.080 --> 0:23:15.760 We're all going to go through valleys, have things we 0:23:15.800 --> 0:23:20.160 don't understand. Trouble is inevitable, but it's up to us 0:23:20.320 --> 0:23:23.520 whether or not we get stressed out and let it 0:23:23.560 --> 0:23:26.080 sour the rest of our life. It's like this man 0:23:26.119 --> 0:23:28.920 I heard about. He was walking through the neighborhood when 0:23:28.920 --> 0:23:32.520 he got bitten by a dog. He was so upset 0:23:33.000 --> 0:23:35.639 he went to the doctor. They ran some tests. The 0:23:35.680 --> 0:23:38.320 doctor said, sir, I'm sorry, but this dog has rabies. 0:23:38.760 --> 0:23:41.040 We're going to have to give you some shots now. 0:23:41.080 --> 0:23:43.760 He was really upset. The doctor walked out of the 0:23:43.840 --> 0:23:47.040 room to get some equipment, came back in. He noticed 0:23:47.080 --> 0:23:49.800 the man was making out a list. He thought he 0:23:49.920 --> 0:23:53.400 was writing out his will. The doctor kind of laughed, said, sir, 0:23:53.560 --> 0:23:56.320 is not that bad. You're not going to die. The 0:23:56.400 --> 0:23:58.639 men said, this is not my will. This is a 0:23:58.680 --> 0:24:02.480 list of all the people that I'm going to bite. 0:24:03.359 --> 0:24:05.479 What am I saying? When you go through a valley, 0:24:06.000 --> 0:24:09.040 when you go through things you don't understand, don't go 0:24:09.080 --> 0:24:12.399 around biting people. Don't let it sury the rest of 0:24:12.480 --> 0:24:16.440 your life. Remind yourself that is not going to work 0:24:16.480 --> 0:24:19.760 against you, is going to work for you. One day 0:24:19.760 --> 0:24:22.200 you're going to look back like I did and say, 0:24:22.200 --> 0:24:25.760 what I thought was a valley of defeat, I realize 0:24:25.800 --> 0:24:29.879 now it was a valley of blessing. One Kings, Chapter twenty. 0:24:30.320 --> 0:24:33.919 The Israelites had just defeated the army of Ben Haydad 0:24:34.200 --> 0:24:37.520 on the top of this mountain. One of his assistants 0:24:37.520 --> 0:24:41.000 said to him, the Israelites God is the god of 0:24:41.040 --> 0:24:44.600 the hills. That's why they were stronger than us. But 0:24:44.680 --> 0:24:47.520 if we fight them in the valleys, we will certainly 0:24:47.560 --> 0:24:51.879 defeat them. One version says in the low Places. The 0:24:51.920 --> 0:24:55.720 next spring, Ben Haydad attacked the Israelites, but this time 0:24:55.800 --> 0:24:59.800 in the valley. God said to the Israelites. They think 0:25:00.320 --> 0:25:02.719 I'm just the God of the mountains and not the 0:25:02.760 --> 0:25:05.480 God of the valleys. I will help you defeat them, 0:25:05.840 --> 0:25:08.240 to show them that I am the God of both. 0:25:09.240 --> 0:25:12.320 When we're on the mountain getting good breaks see in favor, 0:25:12.640 --> 0:25:16.440 we know God is with us. Life is good. Sometimes 0:25:16.440 --> 0:25:19.240 when we're in the valley, we think, God, where are you? 0:25:20.119 --> 0:25:22.600 Why did this happen to me? Will I ever get 0:25:22.640 --> 0:25:25.959 out of this trouble? Will I ever get well, be encouraged. 0:25:26.240 --> 0:25:28.720 He's not just the god of the mountains. He's the 0:25:28.760 --> 0:25:32.720 God of the valleys. David said, he's a very present 0:25:32.880 --> 0:25:36.679 help in times of trouble. When you're in the valley, 0:25:36.960 --> 0:25:39.919 God is not far away. He's right there with you, 0:25:40.040 --> 0:25:43.879 a very present health. Paul Maty four says, when you 0:25:44.000 --> 0:25:48.000 go through the valley of Weeping, it will become a 0:25:48.040 --> 0:25:53.040 place of refreshing, where pools of blessing collect after the rain. 0:25:54.000 --> 0:25:56.680 On the way of your destiny, there'll be some valleys 0:25:57.200 --> 0:26:00.560 you'll probably shed some tears, have things you don't stand. 0:26:01.040 --> 0:26:05.439 But God doesn't waste anything. This is saying God collects 0:26:05.520 --> 0:26:09.560 every tear that you've shed. He used those same tears 0:26:09.600 --> 0:26:13.920 to refresh you. They will become pools of blessing. When 0:26:13.960 --> 0:26:16.879 David was thirty seven years old, he was about to 0:26:16.920 --> 0:26:20.119 step into the fullness of his destiny. He had just 0:26:20.240 --> 0:26:24.479 received his third and final anointing. He found himself at 0:26:24.520 --> 0:26:29.440 the valley of Reffian Ruffium means giants. Some twenty years 0:26:29.480 --> 0:26:33.679 earlier he had killed Goliath in that valley, but now 0:26:33.960 --> 0:26:37.120 he not only faced one Goliath, he faced a valley 0:26:37.200 --> 0:26:41.959 of Goliath. The principle the closer you are to your destiny, 0:26:42.200 --> 0:26:46.359 the greater the opposition. It may overcome one challenge, that's good, 0:26:46.640 --> 0:26:49.680 but don't be surprised if you face a bigger challenge. 0:26:49.920 --> 0:26:53.439 That means you're getting closer to your destiny. David and 0:26:53.480 --> 0:26:55.800 his men went out full of faith, full of courage, 0:26:55.960 --> 0:27:00.080 and defeated the Philistines. The scripture says that day Hed 0:27:00.359 --> 0:27:04.000 rename the valley. Instead of calling it the Valley of giants, 0:27:04.119 --> 0:27:08.359 the Valley of refium, he renamed it vow Parism. That 0:27:08.520 --> 0:27:13.119 means the God of the breakthrough. When you face situations 0:27:13.160 --> 0:27:17.200 that seem impossible, you need to do like David, rename 0:27:17.320 --> 0:27:21.600 that valley. This is not the valley of debt, struggle, lack. 0:27:21.760 --> 0:27:25.440 I'm renaming it the Valley of abundance, the Valley of promotion, 0:27:25.920 --> 0:27:29.840 the Valley of increase. This is not the valley of cancer, 0:27:30.240 --> 0:27:34.760 heart disease, kidney failure. I'm renaming it the Valley of health, 0:27:34.800 --> 0:27:38.120 the Valley of wholeness, the Valley of victory. Or this 0:27:38.200 --> 0:27:42.359 may look like the valley of loneliness, loss, disappointment, but 0:27:42.440 --> 0:27:46.680 I'm renaming it the Valley of breakthroughs, the Valley of victory. 0:27:47.080 --> 0:27:50.840 It's the valley of blessing. Friends, if you'll start renaming 0:27:50.880 --> 0:27:54.520 your valleys, what was meant to stop you will instead 0:27:54.640 --> 0:27:58.840 promote you. The reason you're facing the opposition is because, 0:27:58.960 --> 0:28:01.640 just like David, you're about to step into a new 0:28:01.720 --> 0:28:05.520 level of your destiny. Don't complain about the valley. Have 0:28:05.640 --> 0:28:09.160 this new perspective. There's a blessing in that valley. Get 0:28:09.160 --> 0:28:12.439 your passion back, get your fire back. The forces that 0:28:12.480 --> 0:28:15.200 are for you are greater than the forces that are 0:28:15.240 --> 0:28:18.880 against you. If you'll do this, I believe and declare 0:28:19.359 --> 0:28:22.320 God is going to turn every valley you face in 0:28:22.440 --> 0:28:25.439 life to a valley of victory, a valley of health, 0:28:25.720 --> 0:28:30.080 a valley of abundance, a valley of blessing in Jesus' name, 0:28:30.520 --> 0:28:32.600 And if you receive it, can you say it then? 0:28:32.640 --> 0:28:37.680 Today we never like to close our broadcast without giving 0:28:37.720 --> 0:28:40.720 you an opportunity to make Jesus the lord of your life. 0:28:41.200 --> 0:28:45.600 Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord Jesus, I'll 0:28:45.640 --> 0:28:50.240 repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I make 0:28:50.320 --> 0:28:54.120 you my Lord and savior. Friends, if you prayed that 0:28:54.200 --> 0:28:57.160 simple prayer, we believe you got born again. Get in 0:28:57.200 --> 0:29:00.520 a good Bible based church, keep God first place. He's 0:29:00.560 --> 0:29:02.840 going to take your places that you've never dreamed. 0:29:03.600 --> 0:29:07.040 Thank you for listening to the joel Ostine podcast. Help 0:29:07.120 --> 0:29:09.840 us continue to share the message of hope with those 0:29:09.960 --> 0:29:10.840 all over the world. 0:29:11.200 --> 0:29:12.720 Visit joelostin dot. 0:29:12.560 --> 0:29:15.600 Com slash give hope to give a gift today. 0:29:16.880 --> 0:29:19.800 Thanks so much for listening to today's message. I hope 0:29:19.800 --> 0:29:23.200 you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest podcast to 0:29:23.280 --> 0:29:26.480 keep you inspired all through the week. We're praying for you. 0:29:26.640 --> 0:29:29.080 I know God's best is still ahead. We'll see you 0:29:29.160 --> 0:29:29.680 next time.