Psalm 23:1-6

1The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4Even 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. 5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

John 10:11, 14, 27-30

11I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.

14“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—

27My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all ^c ; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30I and the Father are one.”

*Valley experiences are inevitable. You cannot have mountains without valleys. If there is a valley experience there is a mount of peak experience.

There valley experiences are inevitable in everyone lives at the times we go through difficulties, hardship, suffering.

Sometime The Great Shephard leads us there into those valley experiences. In GOD eyes He takes through the valley to get us ready into the next mountain peak, into the valley to get us ready to the next mountain peak. Because GOD has a higher purpose in our lives than just keep us happy. God would allow you to go through these times because He has something better in mind for you.

Sometime we wander away from the LORD. Valley living is not His plan for His children. He has the best for us. He has predestined every one of us to go through the valleys but not hung around there. It is a passage way. If GOD leads you through the valley He has something better for you in your life than floundering around the valley.

The valley experience is an experience allowed by GOD, and it is an experience that may guide us into and through but never flounder around inside of it. Each time GOD has something better in mind for us. He needs to bring us to a point so we can see, eliminates everything that hinders what GOD would like you to hear. He would like to clear our vision, see and hear what He would like us to see and hear. GOD would like us to see it from His point of view.

Going through suffering off throws balance. The depth of the valley depends on what GOD wants to accomplish in our lives. It is a pain that shutters their emotions due to someone did to them. On the top of the mountain, bottom of the valley He is still the same good Shephard. The length and depth GOD determines. If we are stubborn and do not respond the correct way the depth of the valley increase.

GOD is interested in intimate relationship with Him. Whatever it takes to get my eyes opened, He is there and He is working for something in our lives for good. Our valleys are under the good care of the shepherd so you can have sense of confidence. The LORD is our shepherd, he is always the same and He is always there. He is with us, living in us, guiding us, directing us, He is always there with you. He is willing to help you turn to Him, depend upon Him.

We respond incorrectly because;

* Solid belief system required, have clear understanding of who GOD is and His ways

* understand the ways of GOD, He operates by principles and His principles are in the word. Have clear understanding of scripture

* Our faith must be based on the Word of GOD

* know His promises

* Valley experiences painful

If I am going to respond right in the valley experience I need to know Him. If I know Him I respond right. The truths of GOD becomes part of my life, become part of my being when GOD allows me, thrust me into valley then I have to apply what I learned, then I have to apply what I believe. Valley experience challenges us, tests us to apply the principles of GOD. It is important we understand GOD’s ways, know His promises, and understand His principles because in that valley everything will get tested. Those things will establish you when you get into the valley. Apply those truths in most difficult trying times.

*These valley experiences are most profitable time for us to learn.

We learn the most about GOD in the valley. There are aspects, ways of GOD that we will discover during valley experience. We discover intimacy. We get overwhelming experience of peace and rest, quietness and confidence that we experience hand in hands with LORD Jesus Christ. He will be our Comforter, Healer when we get into the valley and respond correctly. The healing process begin even in the most painful process.

We discover the degree of our faith, the level of our faith, we discover nature of our character, and we discover whether we can really endure or not. We go through things that we can do nothing about and we are totally helpless, relying on GOD. GOD has a way of increasing the pain levels that so painful and nothing else in life matters. His ultimate purpose is LORD Jesus Christ rule in our life. He wants us to lean on nothing, no one but Himself. While it is very difficult and challenging it ends up being glory to GOD and we learn things about ourselves that we will not learn in any other way and He brings us to sense of dependence upon Him that’s why we come to that painful period. If we focus on the LORD it quietens our spirit.

We also discover about GOD purpose in our life. When bottom drops GOD gets our attention and confirms His purpose in our life, He strengthens you makes you effective at what you are doing. It is also time of preparation. He will never allow that valley unless He has a purpose in mind. We walk through the valley. It is a refining cleansing process. However we got there GOD allowed us there because He is refining and purifying and cleansing, building character, preparing for what He has in mind for us.

We will rest, we will drink and we won’t fear anything in these valleys. You have Word of GOD which has everything you need to know about Him, it’s my protection, it’s my help, it’s my guide, it’s my comfort. We have everything we need to get us through the valley if we take the rod and staff and use it properly. LORD Jesus is within us therefore we have all we require.

* He wants us to get a clear picture of Him. In the valley when I am hurting, when I am in pain and lonely we turn to Him. When all gone, our friends leave us we turn to Him. We learn a lot about GOD, His presence, His love, His patience with me, His gentleness, when we are in the valley. We learn the most about GOD in the valley. The purifying work of pain. The valley could be painful totally beyond and we cannot control it.

Since LORD is doing something good for us it’s worth the trip, we need to respond right and recognise that He has a purpose for us. Refining process for us to be better, it’s sifting unimportant things out of our lives, renewing something in our lives. GOD always has a purpose if I acknowledge He has a purpose for my journey through the valley it’s not a waste, it is not all pain, because pain does purify us, a lot of things we thought is important becomes no longer important. He knows exactly how to get our attention. Whatever valley you are in GOD is up to something therefore for you to profit from it. He is leading us from one mountain pick to another mountain pick. GOD wants to grow us until the last days of our lives.

Right response;

Ask, loving Father what is your purpose in this experience? Father how you want me to respond in this experience? Loving Father all that I am I layed down for you. Father all that I have is yours.

Surrender your life to GOD fully. ‘GOD you have your way in my life.’

Believe that GOD will use this valley experience you are going through for something good.

28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28.

The good Shepherd has the best in mind for you because He has something fantastic in mind for you. GOD does not want you down here while He can have you up here. He will give you vision for what He can do for you. If you could see with the eyes He sees, you will say GOD send me to the valley.

I must rest in His wisdom, in His love and power. GOD I am laying it all before you and I am going to trust you, your love and wisdom to see me through no matter what.

Thank Him for it. Father thank you for bringing me through this valley for the lessons I have learned for cleansing me up, for the joy you have given to my heart. In the mist of the valley we cannot see. Valley makes us most useful for Him to accomplish His purpose in us. How your life will affect other people’s life. He cleanse me up and gives joy in my heart.

We have the Good Sheppard living in you. We have the good Sheppard living in us guiding us, directing us, comforting us, strengthening us, we have Him so it does not make any difference whether I am on the mountain peak or in the valley. Good Sheppard is always the same and always there.

GOD uses difficulties and hardship to refine us, to mould us into His image. Focus on GOD not on your problem.

When we get into the valley the Almighty GOD will guide us at every step of the way. The pain might be unbearable but rest assured the glory on the other side will make that pain disappear.