I talk to people every day who feel like the world is crashing down around them. They will like nothing is working out correctly. They feel like the life they live in is a never ending valley. Let’s check out this scripture
Psalm 23:4 “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.”
It’s a verse I have heard my whole life. It was drilled into my head every Sunday in Sunday School. I even recall seeing it written on the bathroom wall in a dark stall (that could be a valley.) We hear this text over and over again but we never really understand the meaning of it.
In my life I have faced many valleys, losing my grandmother, grandfather, and other family members all before the age of ten is defiantly a test of faith.
Here is the truth, everyone will face a storm and valley. Overcoming the storm is the hard part. It’s easy to get fearful and give up completely, but I believe God wants us to keep pushing and trust in Him.
What do we do when a storm comes?
1. Recognize it is a storm.
The first step to overcoming something is to recognize it. We must know that the season that we’re in may be difficult, however God is going to help us through it.
2. Compare the storm to your God
We could simply say that we can’t do it, the storm is to hard, I am not strong enough, or we could compare the storm to our God. He can move mountains and calm the raging sea. He can handle our problems, trust me.
3. Pray and Fast
In the past every time something hard would come up I had a pool of mentors I would call for advice. Never really seeking guidance from the Lord just from man (don’t do that.) I remember one of my mentors would say the same 6 words every time “You need to fast and pray.” Now in the moment I would become irritated (that was my flesh) but then one day I had no other solution and within twenty four hours there was HUGE shift in my life. God responds to obedience.
In closing
Acts 27:13-15
New Living Translation (NLT)
"When a light wind began blowing from the south, the sailors thought they could make it. So they pulled up anchor and sailed close to the shore of Crete. 14 But the weather changed abruptly, and a wind of typhoon strength (called a “northeaster”) burst across the island and blew us out to sea. 15 The sailors couldn’t turn the ship into the wind, so they gave up and let it run before the gale."
The sailors were trying to control the ship on it’s on. They were trying to turn in and go the direction they thought were best. You are trying to do the same thing in your life. Stop taking ownership of ship and give it to God. Let down the sails and let Him lead you where you need to go.