The Valley of the Blessing

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See terms and conditions at 0:01:29.360 --> 0:01:30.080 UNEs dot co. 0:01:31.080 --> 0:01:34.840 Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for downloading our podcast. 0:01:35.080 --> 0:01:37.880 We enjoy spending this time with you. I hope you'll 0:01:37.959 --> 0:01:41.319 leave Inspire. Make sure you subscribe to get new messages 0:01:41.360 --> 0:01:44.360 every week. We appreciate your support. It helps keep the 0:01:44.440 --> 0:02:01.040 ministry going. Enjoy the message for God Blue. It's a 0:02:01.120 --> 0:02:03.680 joy to come into your homes and thanks so much 0:02:03.760 --> 0:02:06.240 for being a part of the program today. We love you. 0:02:06.600 --> 0:02:09.280 If you're ever in our area, please stop by and 0:02:09.320 --> 0:02:11.560 be a part of one of our services. I promise 0:02:11.600 --> 0:02:13.760 you we'll make you feel right at home. But thanks 0:02:13.760 --> 0:02:15.760 so much for tuning in, and thank you again for 0:02:15.840 --> 0:02:18.680 coming out today. I like to start with something funny. 0:02:18.720 --> 0:02:21.480 And one day this young man was talking to God 0:02:21.520 --> 0:02:25.079 and he said, God, what's a million years like to you? 0:02:25.840 --> 0:02:28.679 God says, Son, to me, a million years is like 0:02:28.840 --> 0:02:32.280 one second. He said, well, God, what's a million dollars 0:02:32.400 --> 0:02:35.360 like to you? He said, Son, A million dollars to 0:02:35.400 --> 0:02:39.000 me is like one penny to you. Thought about it 0:02:39.040 --> 0:02:41.239 a moment. He finally got up his courage. He said, God, 0:02:41.280 --> 0:02:44.920 would you give me a penny? God said sure, just 0:02:44.960 --> 0:02:49.440 a second. Hold up your Bible. Say it like you 0:02:49.560 --> 0:02:52.519 mean it. This is my Bible. I am what it says. 0:02:52.600 --> 0:02:55.280 I am. I have what it says I have. I 0:02:55.320 --> 0:02:57.840 can do what it says I can do. Today I 0:02:57.919 --> 0:03:01.440 will be taught the word of God, boldly confess. My 0:03:01.560 --> 0:03:04.880 mind is alert, my heart is receptive. I will never 0:03:04.919 --> 0:03:09.880 be the same. In Jesus's name, God bless you. I 0:03:09.919 --> 0:03:13.040 want to talk to you today about the Valley of Blessing. 0:03:14.160 --> 0:03:17.120 We all go through difficult times in life and things 0:03:17.160 --> 0:03:20.399 that we don't understand when we're in the valley. It's 0:03:20.440 --> 0:03:23.440 easy to get discouraged and think that it'll never get better. 0:03:24.000 --> 0:03:27.800 Too often we lose our passion. But the scripture talks 0:03:27.840 --> 0:03:32.440 about the valley of blessing. That seems like a contradiction. 0:03:33.120 --> 0:03:35.160 We think I can't be in the valley and be 0:03:35.240 --> 0:03:39.680 blessed in the valley. I'm discouraged dealing with this health issue. 0:03:39.880 --> 0:03:42.800 These people at work won't treat me right. We see 0:03:42.840 --> 0:03:45.560 the valley as being negative. As soon as I get 0:03:45.600 --> 0:03:48.960 out of this situation, I'll have a better attitude. But 0:03:49.000 --> 0:03:53.440 I've learned God doesn't always remove the valley. He'll bless 0:03:53.480 --> 0:03:58.280 you in the valley. David said, God prepares a table 0:03:58.360 --> 0:04:02.640 before me in the presence of my enemies. Doesn't say 0:04:02.960 --> 0:04:06.880 God will remove all my enemies, eliminate everything this bothered me. 0:04:07.040 --> 0:04:10.960 Then't prepare the table. No, in the midst of the trouble, 0:04:11.480 --> 0:04:14.440 in the midst of the adversity, he prepares the table. 0:04:15.000 --> 0:04:17.960 He doesn't have to deliver you from it. He can 0:04:18.000 --> 0:04:21.920 deliver you in it. One time in the scripture, Isaac 0:04:22.040 --> 0:04:25.520 was in a great famine. Nobody's crops could grow. Land 0:04:25.640 --> 0:04:29.280 was dry and hard, no water. But he went out 0:04:29.400 --> 0:04:33.400 and planted his fields. In the same year, he received 0:04:33.440 --> 0:04:37.680 a one hundredfold return. God didn't have to deliver him 0:04:37.720 --> 0:04:40.520 from the famine. He blessed him in the midst of 0:04:40.560 --> 0:04:43.680 the famine. You may be in a valley right now, 0:04:44.200 --> 0:04:47.520 fighting a battle in your health, in your finances, in 0:04:47.560 --> 0:04:52.159 a legal situation. God knows how to turn that battlefield 0:04:52.640 --> 0:04:57.280 into your blessing field. Don't complain about the valley. There's 0:04:57.320 --> 0:05:00.880 a blessing in that valley. It wasn't s to harm you, 0:05:01.240 --> 0:05:04.680 It was sent to increase you. You need to get ready. 0:05:04.880 --> 0:05:07.880 It's not going to stay a valley of defeat. It's 0:05:07.920 --> 0:05:11.359 about to turn to a valley of victory. What you 0:05:11.480 --> 0:05:15.680 think is a valley of disappointment, loss, heartache, God is 0:05:15.720 --> 0:05:19.040 going to turn to a valley of new beginnings, a 0:05:19.120 --> 0:05:23.120 valley of greater fulfillment. Or perhaps you're in a valley 0:05:23.160 --> 0:05:26.640 of sickness. You could easily be discouraged and settle where 0:05:26.640 --> 0:05:30.360 you are. Take heart, it's only temporary. It's going to 0:05:30.400 --> 0:05:34.320 turn to a valley of health, a valley of greater strength. 0:05:34.680 --> 0:05:37.840 God has you in the palm of his hand. He 0:05:37.920 --> 0:05:41.800 promised the number of your days he will fulfill. Don't 0:05:41.839 --> 0:05:44.919 be fooled. By the valley. Like Isaac, it's about to 0:05:44.960 --> 0:05:48.320 turn to a valley of breakthroughs, a valley of abundance, 0:05:48.360 --> 0:05:52.400 a valley of victory. It's a valley of blessing. This 0:05:52.440 --> 0:05:55.080 is what happened in the scripture to the people of Judah. 0:05:55.360 --> 0:05:59.320 They were surrounded by three major armies who were quickly 0:05:59.360 --> 0:06:02.400 closing in on them. In the natural, they didn't have 0:06:02.400 --> 0:06:06.680 a chance. They were out numbered ten to one. Jehosiphat 0:06:06.839 --> 0:06:11.200 the king, he called everyone together to pray. All these 0:06:11.240 --> 0:06:15.880 people stood before him, husbands, wives, little children. You can 0:06:15.920 --> 0:06:19.719 imagine how worried, how concerned their lives were on the line. 0:06:20.600 --> 0:06:24.400 Jehosaphat looked up to the heavens. He said, God, we 0:06:24.440 --> 0:06:27.559 don't know what to do, but our eyes are upon 0:06:27.600 --> 0:06:32.680 you when you're in the valley. It's okay to be honest. God, 0:06:32.720 --> 0:06:35.080 I don't see how it could ever get out. I 0:06:35.080 --> 0:06:37.719 don't see how it could get well, how my family 0:06:37.760 --> 0:06:41.640 could be restored. That's fine, but don't stop there. Do 0:06:41.880 --> 0:06:44.760 like he did. God, I don't see away, but my 0:06:44.880 --> 0:06:47.920 eyes are upon you. I know you still have a way. 0:06:48.279 --> 0:06:52.920 I know nothing's too difficult for you. After he finished praying, 0:06:53.240 --> 0:06:56.120 a young man spoke up and said, this is what 0:06:56.160 --> 0:07:00.360 the Lord says. Don't be discouraged by these mighty armies, 0:07:00.839 --> 0:07:04.200 for the battle is not yours. The battle is the lord's. 0:07:04.880 --> 0:07:08.080 You may be facing big enemies today God is saying 0:07:08.120 --> 0:07:11.760 the same thing. Quit letting it upset you, Quit losing 0:07:11.800 --> 0:07:15.320 your peace. It's not your battle, it's the Lord's battle. 0:07:16.400 --> 0:07:19.200 God went on to instruct them that the next day 0:07:19.680 --> 0:07:23.520 they were to walk toward their enemies. He said, you 0:07:23.600 --> 0:07:27.240 won't even need to fight. Just take your positions, then 0:07:27.400 --> 0:07:32.360 stand still and watch the Lord's victory. King Jehosaphat did 0:07:32.400 --> 0:07:36.280 something interesting. He put the musicians out in front, the 0:07:36.320 --> 0:07:40.040 singers and the praisers. With every step as they walk 0:07:40.160 --> 0:07:44.040 toward their enemies, they saying the Lord is good and 0:07:44.160 --> 0:07:49.560 his mercy endures forever. Notice in the valley, they weren't complaining. 0:07:50.520 --> 0:07:53.880 They weren't saying we'll never get out. This problem's too big. 0:07:54.160 --> 0:07:57.400 Why does this happen to us? No, they were singing praises. 0:07:57.920 --> 0:08:00.960 They were talking about the greatness of their God. They 0:08:00.960 --> 0:08:05.560 were speaking faith into their future. What you're saying in 0:08:05.600 --> 0:08:09.280 the valley is extremely important. If you go around saying 0:08:09.480 --> 0:08:12.920 I'm never gonna get out, Joel, I've got all these problems. 0:08:12.960 --> 0:08:15.120 I always get these bad breaks. Then you're going to 0:08:15.160 --> 0:08:19.080 get stuck. But when you start talking about how great 0:08:19.120 --> 0:08:22.720 your God is, how no weapon formed against you will prosper, 0:08:23.240 --> 0:08:26.000 how this problem didn't come to stay, it came to pass. 0:08:26.400 --> 0:08:29.080 I can do all things through Christ. I am more 0:08:29.200 --> 0:08:32.760 than a conquer When you start talking like that, that's 0:08:32.800 --> 0:08:35.800 when God will show up and make things happen that 0:08:35.880 --> 0:08:40.160 you could never make happen. When these enemy armies hurt 0:08:40.200 --> 0:08:44.319 all the singing, the shouting, the commotion, they got confused 0:08:44.760 --> 0:08:48.400 and begin to fight among themselves. They ended up killing 0:08:48.480 --> 0:08:51.960 each other. When the people of Judah arrived, their enemies 0:08:51.960 --> 0:08:55.920 were already defeated. They didn't have to lift one finger 0:08:56.080 --> 0:09:00.200 in their defense. Just like God promised, stand still and 0:09:00.240 --> 0:09:05.280 He will fight your battles. These enemy armies left so 0:09:05.400 --> 0:09:10.480 many supplies, so much equipment, valuables, clothing, that it took 0:09:10.520 --> 0:09:13.880 the people of Judah three days to collect it all. 0:09:14.559 --> 0:09:18.640 On the fourth day, the scripture says, they stood in 0:09:18.720 --> 0:09:22.600 the Valley of Blessing and thanked God for what he 0:09:22.640 --> 0:09:27.040 had done. Isn't it interesting? In the place where they 0:09:27.080 --> 0:09:32.320 had their greatest battles their most powerful enemies. God didn't 0:09:32.400 --> 0:09:35.960 call that the valley of opposition, the valley of struggle, 0:09:36.200 --> 0:09:39.920 the valley of heartache. He called it the valley of blessing. 0:09:41.000 --> 0:09:44.520 When you face tough times, have this new perspective. That 0:09:44.679 --> 0:09:48.680 is not the valley of defeat. That's the valley of victory. 0:09:48.760 --> 0:09:50.960 That's not a valley to hold you back. It's a 0:09:51.040 --> 0:09:54.880 valley of promotion. It's not a valley of sickness. It's 0:09:54.920 --> 0:10:00.000 a valley of restoration. Maybe, like the people of Judah, 0:10:00.000 --> 0:10:04.319 you're facing looks insurmountable. Medical report doesn't look good. You 0:10:04.440 --> 0:10:07.040 lost your biggest client, Your child won't do what's right. 0:10:07.240 --> 0:10:11.000 Those enemies may look big, but one touch of God's 0:10:11.000 --> 0:10:15.720 favor can turn it all around. Don't get discouraged. God 0:10:15.800 --> 0:10:19.440 has not brought you this far to leave you. Every 0:10:19.559 --> 0:10:22.920 voice may tell you that's a valley of defeat. You're 0:10:22.960 --> 0:10:26.800 never going to get out, never accomplish your dreams. The 0:10:26.840 --> 0:10:29.520 good news is you don't have to get out of 0:10:29.520 --> 0:10:33.360 the valley. God can bless you in the valley. The 0:10:33.640 --> 0:10:36.960 enemy may have meant it for your harm, but he 0:10:37.000 --> 0:10:41.680 doesn't have the final say. God does. He says, stand still, 0:10:42.200 --> 0:10:45.440 and I'm going to show you my goodness. Stay in faith, 0:10:45.760 --> 0:10:49.720 and I'm going to turn that battlefield into your blessing field. 0:10:50.320 --> 0:10:53.600 What should have defeated you is going to increase you. 0:10:53.600 --> 0:10:56.480 You're going to come out better. I love the fact 0:10:56.720 --> 0:10:59.839 it took them three days to gather up all the spoils. 0:11:00.440 --> 0:11:02.839 Would have been a great victory if God would have 0:11:02.880 --> 0:11:06.959 just defeated their enemies spared their lives. But God never 0:11:07.000 --> 0:11:10.000 brings you out the same. He makes the enemy pay 0:11:10.320 --> 0:11:14.800 for bringing that trouble into your life. And sometimes we're 0:11:14.880 --> 0:11:17.360 just hoping to make it through the valley. God help 0:11:17.400 --> 0:11:19.960 me make it through this dry season at work. But 0:11:20.040 --> 0:11:22.880 God says no, I'm going to turn that valley into 0:11:22.960 --> 0:11:26.599 a valley of abundance. If you're a football fan, you 0:11:26.720 --> 0:11:29.720 probably know who Tony Dungee is one of the great 0:11:29.760 --> 0:11:33.480 coaches of our day. After playing in the league many years, 0:11:33.880 --> 0:11:37.040 in nineteen ninety six, he got his first job as 0:11:37.080 --> 0:11:40.720 a head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers football team. 0:11:41.040 --> 0:11:44.480 He was so excited. Was a dream come true. He 0:11:44.559 --> 0:11:47.800 told me how he didn't know anyone in that organization, 0:11:48.440 --> 0:11:52.520 didn't have any special inside contacts, but out of several 0:11:52.960 --> 0:11:56.760 qualified candidates, they chose him. He knew it was the 0:11:56.840 --> 0:12:01.520 hand of God opening that door. Years everything was going good, 0:12:01.960 --> 0:12:06.080 they were making more progress, winning more games. But one day, 0:12:06.320 --> 0:12:11.160 unexpectedly he was fired. They let him go. He thought, God, 0:12:11.800 --> 0:12:14.400 I know you gave me this job. I know this 0:12:14.600 --> 0:12:17.640 was your plan. I don't understand why this has happened 0:12:17.679 --> 0:12:21.000 to me. He was in the valley. Didn't make sense, 0:12:21.480 --> 0:12:24.880 but he didn't start complaining. He didn't get bitter. He 0:12:24.960 --> 0:12:28.960 understood this principle that there's a blessing in every valley. 0:12:30.320 --> 0:12:34.120 David said in Psalm twenty three, the Lord is my shepherd. 0:12:34.640 --> 0:12:38.200 He leads me by the still waters, leads me to 0:12:38.320 --> 0:12:42.240 the green pastures. We like that part of the passage. 0:12:42.320 --> 0:12:45.640 But a little later it says, though I walk through 0:12:45.960 --> 0:12:49.000 the valley of the shadow of death. He was saying, 0:12:49.640 --> 0:12:52.600 the same God that leads you to the green pastures 0:12:52.640 --> 0:12:56.800 and the still waters sometimes will lead you to the valley. 0:12:57.720 --> 0:13:00.960 You may not understand it. If it wasn't going to 0:13:01.000 --> 0:13:04.160 work for your good God would have never allowed it. 0:13:04.880 --> 0:13:08.359 When you face tough times, you have to remind yourself. 0:13:08.640 --> 0:13:11.839 God would not be leading you to that valley. If 0:13:11.840 --> 0:13:16.600 that's all there was, loss, defeat, too bad, you're done. No, 0:13:17.000 --> 0:13:20.480 there's a purpose for that valley, not to hinder you, 0:13:20.920 --> 0:13:24.079 but to help you, not to hold you back, but 0:13:24.120 --> 0:13:27.840 to push you forward, not to weaken you, but to 0:13:27.920 --> 0:13:31.960 make you stronger. Now, the key is our attitude in 0:13:32.000 --> 0:13:36.240 the valley. If Jehosaphat would have thought, God, I've served 0:13:36.240 --> 0:13:39.160 you all these years, I've done my best, and now look, 0:13:39.200 --> 0:13:41.200 these enemies are going to wipe us out. That's just 0:13:41.280 --> 0:13:45.280 not right. If he'd have been negative, bitter, discouraged, he 0:13:45.320 --> 0:13:49.080 would have never seen this valley of blessing. Most likely 0:13:49.120 --> 0:13:53.000 he would have been captured or even killed. Proverb says, 0:13:53.440 --> 0:13:57.160 the steps of a good person are ordered by the Lord. 0:13:58.200 --> 0:14:02.400 When you encounter a valley, sometimes it's not because you've 0:14:02.440 --> 0:14:07.000 done anything wrong. It's because you're doing something right. God 0:14:07.080 --> 0:14:09.800 is ready to promote you. But the way he's going 0:14:09.880 --> 0:14:12.640 to do it is by taking you through the valley 0:14:12.800 --> 0:14:15.880 of blessing. We think, God, if you're gonna bless me, 0:14:16.320 --> 0:14:18.800 don't take me down, take me up. You want to 0:14:18.840 --> 0:14:21.520 promote me, don't let me lose my job. But God's 0:14:21.560 --> 0:14:25.080 ways are not our ways. They are much bigger. His 0:14:25.240 --> 0:14:28.840 plan is better than our plan. What I'm saying, don't 0:14:28.880 --> 0:14:35.680 fight your valleys. Stay encouraged. Every closed door, every bad break, 0:14:36.120 --> 0:14:39.600 everything that didn't work out. That valley was not a 0:14:39.680 --> 0:14:43.160 surprise to God. It's an opportunity for you to go 0:14:43.240 --> 0:14:46.720 to a higher level. God is directing your steps when 0:14:46.720 --> 0:14:50.240 you're on the mountaintops, and he's directing your steps even 0:14:50.320 --> 0:14:54.720 when you're in the valley. And I'm not saying to accept, defeat, 0:14:55.320 --> 0:14:59.000 settle for mediocrity. This is God's plan. Now, I'm saying, 0:14:59.560 --> 0:15:01.920 when you go go through a valley, and we all do, 0:15:02.640 --> 0:15:05.800 when a door closes, you get a bad medical report, 0:15:06.160 --> 0:15:09.720 don't get bitter, don't live with a chip on your shoulder. 0:15:10.160 --> 0:15:15.080 Start expecting new doors to open, new opportunities, new friendships. 0:15:15.520 --> 0:15:18.480 God wouldn't have led you there if it wasn't going 0:15:18.560 --> 0:15:22.120 to work for your good. There's a blessing in that valley. 0:15:22.960 --> 0:15:26.280 And of course, coach Dungee, he was disappointed that he 0:15:26.360 --> 0:15:29.840 lost his job, but he didn't sit around talking about 0:15:29.840 --> 0:15:33.560 how bad life had treated him. He started thanking God 0:15:33.680 --> 0:15:36.920 that new doors were going to open. He knew the 0:15:36.960 --> 0:15:40.800 same God that opened the door in Tampa Bay had 0:15:40.840 --> 0:15:44.880 now closed that door. The same God that had directed 0:15:44.880 --> 0:15:48.120 his steps and gave him favor to get that job. 0:15:48.360 --> 0:15:51.920 Had now directed his steps away from what he thought 0:15:52.000 --> 0:15:55.560 was his dream job. He was in the valley. Not 0:15:55.720 --> 0:15:58.600 long after that, he received a phone call from the 0:15:58.680 --> 0:16:03.440 Indianapolis Colts football organization. They said, we're looking for a 0:16:03.480 --> 0:16:06.960 new head coach. Would you be interested. They had a 0:16:06.960 --> 0:16:09.800 good quarterback named Peyton Manning. He said, I think so. 0:16:10.520 --> 0:16:13.120 He took that job and Coach Dungee went on to 0:16:13.120 --> 0:16:16.960 have incredible success coaching the Colts. They won the Super Bowl, 0:16:17.240 --> 0:16:21.720 had many other winning seasons. God turned that valley into 0:16:21.760 --> 0:16:25.360 a valley of victory. Here's the thing. Had God never 0:16:25.440 --> 0:16:28.320 closed that door, he may not have ever won the 0:16:28.360 --> 0:16:32.320 Super Bowl. Don't fight your valleys. They're leading you to 0:16:32.360 --> 0:16:37.960 your greatest victories. In the valleys, we always gain something. 0:16:38.560 --> 0:16:41.960 We may not like it, but we gain experience, We 0:16:42.000 --> 0:16:47.000 gain endurance. Our character is being developed. With every victory 0:16:47.400 --> 0:16:50.840 comes a new level of confidence, something that you'll need 0:16:51.040 --> 0:16:54.640 later on to go to a higher level. The valleys 0:16:54.760 --> 0:16:58.560 are getting us prepared. God knows what's in your future. 0:16:59.200 --> 0:17:01.960 He knows what you're going to need, when you're going 0:17:01.960 --> 0:17:06.400 to need it. Everything happens for a reason. A challenge 0:17:06.400 --> 0:17:09.600 you face today may not make sense, you may not 0:17:09.800 --> 0:17:14.800 understand it, but fifteen years from now, because it deposited 0:17:14.840 --> 0:17:17.840 something in you, you'll be prepared for what you face. 0:17:19.119 --> 0:17:24.920 God doesn't do anything randomly. He's specific, He's detailed. If 0:17:25.000 --> 0:17:28.480 the valley wasn't necessary, you wouldn't be there. If that 0:17:28.640 --> 0:17:31.879 set back, that disappointment wasn't going to add anything to 0:17:31.960 --> 0:17:35.320 your life, God would have never allowed it. Now, don't 0:17:35.359 --> 0:17:37.840 try to figure out why it happened. That will only 0:17:37.920 --> 0:17:41.040 confuse you. Just stay in faith, trust God that he 0:17:41.160 --> 0:17:44.679 knows what's best, and you can be certain everything that 0:17:44.760 --> 0:17:48.199 comes your way in life, somehow, some way, God is 0:17:48.240 --> 0:17:52.480 eventually going to work that to your advantage. When David 0:17:52.600 --> 0:17:55.600 was a teenager he went out to face Goliath in 0:17:55.640 --> 0:17:59.679 the Valley of Elah. Wasn't a coincidence that he was 0:17:59.720 --> 0:18:03.600 in the valley? We see this principle. Goliath, of course, 0:18:03.680 --> 0:18:08.680 was much bigger, stronger, had more experience. It looked impossible 0:18:09.119 --> 0:18:12.080 like David didn't have a chance, But again we see 0:18:12.119 --> 0:18:15.640 God turn a valley of defeat into a valley of blessing. 0:18:16.640 --> 0:18:21.040 David took his slingshot and he knocked Goliath out. David 0:18:21.080 --> 0:18:23.760 didn't have a sword, So he went over and got 0:18:23.800 --> 0:18:28.240 Goliath's sword and finished him off. David came out of 0:18:28.280 --> 0:18:32.680 that valley not only with more experience, more confidence, more respect, 0:18:33.200 --> 0:18:38.000 but he came out with the sword of Goliath. Fast forward, 0:18:38.119 --> 0:18:41.720 years later, David was on the run from King Saul. 0:18:42.359 --> 0:18:44.960 Saul was jealous of David and trying to kill him. 0:18:45.480 --> 0:18:47.520 David had to leave in such a hurry that he 0:18:47.560 --> 0:18:50.080 didn't have time to get his sword. He had no 0:18:50.160 --> 0:18:53.600 way to protect himself. He ran to the next city, 0:18:54.240 --> 0:18:56.919 went to the temple, saw some people that he knew. 0:18:57.520 --> 0:18:59.760 He told them he was on assignment for the king, 0:19:00.440 --> 0:19:04.320 ask if they had a sword he could borrow. They said, David, 0:19:04.600 --> 0:19:08.879 all we have is the sword of Goliath, the Philistine 0:19:09.240 --> 0:19:13.440 whom you killed in the valley. Notice, something that had 0:19:13.480 --> 0:19:17.880 happened in the valley was now instrumental to David reaching 0:19:17.960 --> 0:19:21.399 the next level of his destiny. Had he not gained 0:19:21.480 --> 0:19:26.320 the sword in the valley, he would have gotten stuck. French, God, 0:19:26.440 --> 0:19:29.720 has it all figured out. The valley you faced today 0:19:30.400 --> 0:19:33.399 may not be for today, it may be for years 0:19:33.400 --> 0:19:35.879 down the road. But if you didn't learn what you 0:19:36.000 --> 0:19:39.159 needed to learn, gain what you needed to gain, you 0:19:39.160 --> 0:19:43.680 wouldn't be prepared for the new levels. Don't complain about 0:19:43.680 --> 0:19:47.680 the valley. There's a blessing in that valley. Later on, 0:19:47.880 --> 0:19:51.840 you're gonna use the experience, the confidence that sword, so 0:19:51.960 --> 0:19:55.080 to speak, will be waiting for you. A few years 0:19:55.080 --> 0:19:57.760 after Victoria and I were married, we moved into a 0:19:57.800 --> 0:20:01.840 new house. We sold our old house. One day there 0:20:01.840 --> 0:20:05.120 was a knock on the door. This policeman was standing there. 0:20:05.640 --> 0:20:09.280 My heart started beating so fast. He smiled and handed 0:20:09.320 --> 0:20:12.120 me some papers and he said, kind of lightly, somebody 0:20:12.200 --> 0:20:15.000 must really not like you. I thought, what do you mean, 0:20:15.040 --> 0:20:19.120 what is this? He said, you've been named in a lawsuit. Well, 0:20:19.119 --> 0:20:22.200 the people that bought our house were suing over the plumbing. 0:20:22.760 --> 0:20:25.120 They not only sued us, but they sued the builder, 0:20:25.160 --> 0:20:28.280 of the architect, real estate agent, the plumber, everybody they 0:20:28.320 --> 0:20:30.960 could think of. And we knew we weren't at fault. 0:20:31.320 --> 0:20:33.560 We didn't build a house and the plumbing had worked 0:20:33.560 --> 0:20:36.760 for us. But for those six months while we were 0:20:36.800 --> 0:20:40.239 in a lawsuit, I was sick to my stomach. I 0:20:40.359 --> 0:20:43.520 was so worried. At twenty six years old, I thought 0:20:43.520 --> 0:20:45.960 that was the worst thing that could ever happen to me. 0:20:46.880 --> 0:20:48.600 In a few weeks, I was going to have to 0:20:48.600 --> 0:20:50.960 give my deposition in front of a lawyer and tell 0:20:51.000 --> 0:20:54.680 them what had happened. I studied, I prepared, found all 0:20:54.720 --> 0:20:58.280 my documents. I was so nervous, went and gave my deposition. 0:20:59.000 --> 0:21:01.879 When I was finished, I was so nauseated that I 0:21:01.920 --> 0:21:04.440 couldn't drive home. Had to have somebody come and pick 0:21:04.480 --> 0:21:08.200 me up. That seemed like the biggest waste of time 0:21:08.400 --> 0:21:13.280 and energy to me, so much unnecessary heartache stress. I 0:21:13.320 --> 0:21:16.760 didn't see how anything productive could ever come out of that. 0:21:17.560 --> 0:21:20.880 But in every valley you're gaining something. You may not 0:21:20.960 --> 0:21:25.399 realize it, but there's a purpose. Thirteen years later, we 0:21:25.600 --> 0:21:29.960 just acquired this place, the former Compact Center. A company 0:21:30.000 --> 0:21:32.800 filed a lawsuit to try to keep us from moving in. 0:21:33.680 --> 0:21:36.919 Now I wasn't dealing with a small plumbing problem. I 0:21:37.000 --> 0:21:39.879 was dealing with something that was critical to my destiny. 0:21:40.680 --> 0:21:43.520 When I went to give my deposition in front of 0:21:43.560 --> 0:21:46.800 a battery of high powered attorneys, I wasn't the least 0:21:46.840 --> 0:21:52.000 bit nervous. I was convedent. I was prepared. I had experience, 0:21:52.760 --> 0:21:56.680 I had been there before. I knew exactly what to expect. 0:21:57.359 --> 0:22:01.439 Like David, that sword was waiting for me. There was 0:22:01.480 --> 0:22:05.200 a purpose for that valley thirteen years earlier. I didn't 0:22:05.200 --> 0:22:07.760 see it at the time. I let it stress me out, 0:22:08.000 --> 0:22:12.440 steal my joy. Now realize it was a valley of blessing. 0:22:13.280 --> 0:22:17.600 Now I've learned nothing happens by accident. There's no use 0:22:17.800 --> 0:22:22.119 getting upset and letting it sour your life. Stand still 0:22:22.600 --> 0:22:25.640 and you will see the victory. One day, you will 0:22:25.680 --> 0:22:29.080 look back and see what God was up to. You'll say, 0:22:29.160 --> 0:22:32.160 like I did, Lord, thank you for that valley. If 0:22:32.200 --> 0:22:34.720 I hadn't learned what I needed to learn, I wouldn't 0:22:34.760 --> 0:22:38.480 be prepared, or like Coach Dungee, Lord, thank you for 0:22:38.560 --> 0:22:40.919 closing that door, or I would have never won the 0:22:40.960 --> 0:22:45.600 Super Bowl. Friends, God knows what he's doing. Every valley 0:22:45.720 --> 0:22:49.719 has a blessing. There's something to push you forward, something 0:22:49.760 --> 0:22:53.080 that will be instrumental in you reaching the next level 0:22:53.160 --> 0:22:57.000 of your destiny. Now I don't complain about my valleys anymore. 0:22:57.520 --> 0:23:02.159 I understand this new perspective. This wouldn't be here unless 0:23:02.200 --> 0:23:05.280 it was preparing me for something greater, unless I was 0:23:05.520 --> 0:23:09.760 gaining something that I'm going to need later on. I've 0:23:09.800 --> 0:23:14.760 heard the saying trouble is inevitable, but misery is optional. 0:23:15.720 --> 0:23:18.399 We're all going to go through valleys, have things we 0:23:18.440 --> 0:23:22.800 don't understand. Trouble is inevitable, but it's up to us 0:23:22.960 --> 0:23:26.159 whether or not we get stressed out and let it 0:23:26.200 --> 0:23:28.720 sour the rest of our life. It's like this man 0:23:28.760 --> 0:23:31.560 I heard about. He was walking through the neighborhood when 0:23:31.560 --> 0:23:35.160 he got bitten by a dog. He was so upset 0:23:35.640 --> 0:23:38.280 he went to the doctor. They ran some tests. The 0:23:38.320 --> 0:23:40.960 doctor said, sir, I'm sorry, but this dog has rab's. 0:23:41.400 --> 0:23:43.680 We're going to have to give you some shots now. 0:23:43.720 --> 0:23:46.399 He was really upset. The doctor walked out of the 0:23:46.480 --> 0:23:49.679 room to get some equipment, came back in. He noticed 0:23:49.720 --> 0:23:52.439 the man was making out a list. He thought he 0:23:52.560 --> 0:23:56.040 was writing out his will. The doctor kind of laughed, said, sir, 0:23:56.200 --> 0:23:58.960 is not that bad. You're not going to die. The 0:23:59.040 --> 0:24:01.280 men said, this is not my will. This is a 0:24:01.359 --> 0:24:04.560 list of all the people that I'm going to bite. 0:24:05.960 --> 0:24:08.119 What am I saying? When you go through a valley, 0:24:08.640 --> 0:24:11.679 when you go through things you don't understand, don't go 0:24:11.720 --> 0:24:15.040 around biting people. Don't let it sary the rest of 0:24:15.119 --> 0:24:19.080 your life. Remind yourself that is not going to work 0:24:19.119 --> 0:24:22.400 against you. It's going to work for you. One day 0:24:22.400 --> 0:24:24.840 you're going to look back like I did and say, 0:24:24.840 --> 0:24:28.360 what I thought was a valley of defeat, I realize 0:24:28.440 --> 0:24:32.520 now it was a valley of blessing. One Kings, Chapter twenty. 0:24:32.960 --> 0:24:36.560 The Israelites had just defeated the army of Ben Haydad 0:24:36.840 --> 0:24:40.160 on the top of this mountain. One of his assistants 0:24:40.160 --> 0:24:43.639 said to him, the Israelites God is the god of 0:24:43.680 --> 0:24:47.240 the hills. That's why they were stronger than us. But 0:24:47.320 --> 0:24:50.160 if we fight them in the valleys, we will certainly 0:24:50.200 --> 0:24:54.520 defeat them. One version says in the low places. The 0:24:54.560 --> 0:24:58.359 next spring, Ben Haydad attacked the Israelites, but this time 0:24:58.440 --> 0:25:02.439 in the valley. God said to the Israelites. They think 0:25:02.920 --> 0:25:05.359 I'm just the God of the mountains and not the 0:25:05.400 --> 0:25:08.120 God of the valleys. I will help you defeat them, 0:25:08.480 --> 0:25:10.879 to show them that I am the God of both. 0:25:11.880 --> 0:25:14.960 When we're on the mountain getting good breaks see in favor. 0:25:15.280 --> 0:25:19.080 We know God is with us. Life is good. Sometimes 0:25:19.080 --> 0:25:21.879 when we're in the valley, we think, God, where are you? 0:25:22.760 --> 0:25:25.280 Why did this happen to me? Will I ever get 0:25:25.280 --> 0:25:28.600 out of this trouble? Will I ever get well? Be encouraged. 0:25:28.880 --> 0:25:31.359 He's not just the god of the mountains. He's the 0:25:31.400 --> 0:25:35.360 God of the valleys. David said, he's a very present 0:25:35.480 --> 0:25:39.320 help in times of trouble. When you're in the valley, 0:25:39.600 --> 0:25:42.560 God is not far away. He's right there with you, 0:25:42.680 --> 0:25:46.520 a very present health. Saul Maty four says, when you 0:25:46.640 --> 0:25:50.639 go through the valley of Weeping, it will become a 0:25:50.680 --> 0:25:55.680 place of refreshing, where pools of blessing collect after the rain. 0:25:56.640 --> 0:25:59.320 On the way to your destiny, there'll be some valleys 0:26:00.080 --> 0:26:03.840 probably shed some tears, have things you don't understand. But 0:26:03.920 --> 0:26:08.600 God doesn't waste anything. This is saying God collects every 0:26:08.640 --> 0:26:12.320 tear that you've shed. He used those same tears to 0:26:12.400 --> 0:26:16.959 refresh you. They will become pools of blessing. When David 0:26:17.040 --> 0:26:19.879 was thirty seven years old, he was about to step 0:26:19.960 --> 0:26:23.359 into the fullness of his destiny. He had just received 0:26:23.359 --> 0:26:27.200 his third and final anointing. He found himself at the 0:26:27.320 --> 0:26:32.639 valley of Reffian Reffium means giants. Some twenty years earlier 0:26:32.960 --> 0:26:36.679 he had killed Goliath in that valley, but now he 0:26:36.800 --> 0:26:40.600 not only faced one Goliath, he faced a valley of Goliath. 0:26:41.320 --> 0:26:44.919 The principle, the closer you are to your destiny, the 0:26:44.960 --> 0:26:49.000 greater the opposition. It may overcome one challenge that's good, 0:26:49.280 --> 0:26:52.440 but don't be surprised if you face a bigger challenge. 0:26:52.560 --> 0:26:56.080 That means you're getting closer to your destiny. David and 0:26:56.119 --> 0:26:58.440 his men went out full of faith, full of courage, 0:26:58.600 --> 0:27:03.440 and defeated the Philistine. The scripture says that David renamed 0:27:03.440 --> 0:27:06.640 the valley. Instead of calling it the Valley of giants, 0:27:06.760 --> 0:27:11.000 the Valley of refium, he renamed it vow Parism. That 0:27:11.160 --> 0:27:15.760 means the God of the breakthrough. When you face situations 0:27:15.800 --> 0:27:19.840 that seem impossible, you need to do like David rename 0:27:19.960 --> 0:27:24.240 that valley. This is not the valley of debt, struggle, lack. 0:27:24.400 --> 0:27:28.080 I'm renaming it the Valley of abundance, the Valley of promotion, 0:27:28.560 --> 0:27:32.480 the Valley of increase. This is not the valley of cancer, 0:27:32.880 --> 0:27:37.360 heart disease, kidney failure. I'm renaming it the Valley of health, 0:27:37.440 --> 0:27:40.760 the Valley of wholeness, the Valley of victory. Or this 0:27:40.840 --> 0:27:45.000 may look like the valley of loneliness, loss, disappointment, but 0:27:45.080 --> 0:27:49.320 I'm renaming it the Valley of breakthroughs, the Valley of victory. 0:27:49.720 --> 0:27:53.480 It's the Valley of blessing. Friends, if you'll start renaming 0:27:53.520 --> 0:27:57.160 your valleys. What was meant to stop you will instead 0:27:57.280 --> 0:28:01.479 promote you. The reason you're facing the pan is because, 0:28:01.600 --> 0:28:04.280 just like David, you're about to step into a new 0:28:04.359 --> 0:28:08.159 level of your destiny. Don't complain about the valley. Have 0:28:08.280 --> 0:28:11.800 this new perspective. There's a blessing in that valley. Get 0:28:11.800 --> 0:28:15.080 your passion back, get your fire back. The forces that 0:28:15.119 --> 0:28:17.840 are for you are greater than the forces that are 0:28:17.880 --> 0:28:21.520 against you. If you'll do this, I believe and declare, 0:28:22.000 --> 0:28:24.959 God is going to turn every valley you face in 0:28:25.080 --> 0:28:28.040 life to a valley of victory, a valley of health, 0:28:28.320 --> 0:28:32.720 a valley of abundance, a valley of blessing in Jesus's name, 0:28:33.160 --> 0:28:35.600 And if you receive it, can you say then today 0:28:37.359 --> 0:28:40.440 we never like to close our broadcast without giving you 0:28:40.520 --> 0:28:43.360 an opportunity to make Jesus the lord of your life. 0:28:43.840 --> 0:28:48.240 Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, I'll 0:28:48.280 --> 0:28:52.880 repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I make 0:28:52.960 --> 0:28:56.720 you my Lord and savior. Friends, if you prayed that 0:28:56.840 --> 0:28:59.760 simple prayer, we believe you got born again. Get in 0:28:59.760 --> 0:29:03.160 a good Bible based church, Keep God first place. He's 0:29:03.200 --> 0:29:05.480 going to take your places that you've never dreamed. 0:29:06.040 --> 0:29:09.480 Thank you for listening to the Joel Ostein podcast. Help 0:29:09.560 --> 0:29:12.280 us continue to share the message of hope with those 0:29:12.400 --> 0:29:16.280 all over the world. Visit Joelostin dot com slash give 0:29:16.360 --> 0:29:18.080 Hope to give a gift today. 0:29:19.320 --> 0:29:22.240 Thanks so much for listening to today's message. I hope 0:29:22.280 --> 0:29:25.640 you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest podcast to 0:29:25.720 --> 0:29:28.920 keep you inspired all through the week. We're praying for you. 0:29:29.120 --> 0:29:31.560 I know God's best is still ahead. We'll see you 0:29:31.640 --> 0:29:32.200 next time. 0:29:40.680 --> 0:29:43.200 More than ever before, people are turning to the church 0:29:43.240 --> 0:29:46.800 for their mental health struggles. 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