Let's recap what we have already discussed before we go on with today's lesson. In the 23rd Psalm, we know that God is leading us on a pathway that He deems the right way for us to go. I know it doesn't look like it. We have to keep in mind that this right pathway is for His name's sake and not ours. We know that this pathway LOOKS like it has taken us to a place of cursing and not blessing. We learned last time that what we face can, often times, stir us to fear instead of faith. These times of "it doesn't look like" are the times that we have to confess, "I will fear no evil for Thou art with me."
The question arises, why would God, if He is a righteous God at all, lead us into a place that looks like it is so very, very, wrong? Why would He lead us into places where it FEELS like He is not answering prayer? These are valid questions. And, if these things are happening to you right now, or you have gone through them before, please understand this one important point. God loves you and has so much faith in you that He has brought you to the place of "it doesn't look like." Remember what Jesus said to Peter in Luke 22:31--
And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired [to have] you, that he may sift [you] as wheat:
Vs 32--But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. He was telling Peter that God was leading him into a valley of the shadow of death. But, He said that He was praying for Peter that HIS FAITH WOULD NOT FAIL. There were some things in Peter that needed sifting through the process of trials and temptations.
The next part of Psalm 23 says I will fear no evil: for thou [art] with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Yes, evil will come and look like it's going to whip me but it doesn't mean that God has left me. David said that God's rod and His staff would comfort him. The staff of God is that long stick with the curved end you always see the shepherds holding. That staff is for pulling wayward sheep back onto the correct path when they begin to stray. In essence, David was saying, "I am ONLY traveling through this valley because YOU have brought me here and YOUR divine will for me is going to bring me out." God will never bring you to a place that He cannot show His mighty power and strength to deliver you. You are in this valley because God is allowing the enemy to "sift" some things out of your life.
Remember, the precious metals of gold and silver cannot reach their purest and most valuable potential until they go through the fire. This is why we go through these things. It's not because God is mad at us. On the contrary, it's because He loves us very dearly. It's because of His great love that He brought us to this place. He sees more in us than we, or anyone else sees. There are precious virtues in us that God longs to bring out in us. Not because He's a mean old God but because when those precious virtues are uncovered through the fiery trial, you and everybody else is going to see what God has seen in you all of the time. The reason you are here in this valley is because God sees good stuff in you that He wants everybody else to see.
Let me challenge you to read 1 Samuel 16 in this light. When God had rejected Saul from being king of Israel, He gave specific instructions to the prophet Samuel to go to Bethlehem to the house of Jesse and anoint a new king. When Samuel got to Jesse's house, he said for Jesse to bring all of his sons so he could sanctify them. He was going to anoint one of them to be the next king of Israel. You know the story, but listen to this. Jesse and his sons left David in the field tending to the sheep. Why? Because, they did not see in David ANY kingly attributes at all. God had spoken to Samuel before he had ever left to go on his journey (verse 1) for I have provided me a king among his sons. God had seen something in the youngest son of Jesse that He loved very dearly. Nobody who looked on the outside could see what God ever saw on the inside. It took the valley of the shadow of death for God to bring the precious metals out in David.
He had the utmost faith in David that David was more than enough to go through the fiery trial. Please understand that God loves you and knows what is lying dormant in you. In this valley, He is trying to bring the precious metals in you to the surface. Love on Him today and allow Him to work His will in you. Walk without fear because you know that there is a good end in store for you.
If this has helped you in any way, please pass it on. You'll never know who needs a word of encouragement.
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