DON’T WASTE YOUR VALLEY

Psalm 143:1–12 KJV 1900

1 Hear my prayer, O Lord, Give ear to my supplications: In thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness. 2 And enter not into judgment with thy servant: For in thy sight shall no man living be justified. 3 For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; He hath smitten my life down to the ground; He hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead. 4 Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; My heart within me is desolate. 5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands. 6 I stretch forth my hands unto thee: My soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah. 7 Hear me speedily, O Lord: my spirit faileth: Hide not thy face from me, Lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. 8 Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; For in thee do I trust: Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; For I lift up my soul unto thee. 9 Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me. 10 Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: Thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness. 11 Quicken me, O Lord, for thy name’s sake: For thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble. 12 And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, And destroy all them that afflict my soul: For I am thy servant.

Intro: One day a preacher who had just lost his family to a tragic fire, and had fallen into the depths of a deep and dark depression was walking down a city street. There, he came upon a construction crew that was erecting a new church. He stopped to watch them as they worked. As he watched, he observed a worker who was busy carving a triangle out of stone with a chisel and hammer. Stepping closer, he asked the stonecutter what he was carving.

The worker pointed to the steeple of the church and said, “Do you see that small opening up there near the steeple? Well, I am carving this stone down here so that it will fit in up there.”

The preacher was immediately stirred in his heart. He realized anew the faithfulness of God and came to understand that the valley he was in at that moment was God’s way of carving him down here so that he would fit in up there.

We live in a world that is filled with people just like that preacher. There are people all around us who live their lives in depression, despair, despondency and defeat. There are some in that condition right now. Through the ages, many famous people have been plagued with difficulties of this sort.

Great individuals like George Washington, Martin Luther, Charles Spurgeon and many of the hymn writers. Even David who is called “A man after God’s own heart,” Acts 13:22, suffered from depression and defeat. This Psalm came from a time of depression, discouragement and defeat.

I would like for us to spend some time in these verses today. By doing so, perhaps we can find help for those times when we walk through our valleys. Perhaps we can find some help when we find ourselves in our times of overwhelming despair.

I want to preach from this passage today in an effort to encourage you. I know that many in our church and our community are going through very difficult valleys right now. I want to encourage you by challenging you. I want to challenge you by saying: Don’t Waste Your Valley. I know that many people do not want to believe it, but God is in charge of all of life. The Bible says, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way,” Psa. 37:23. And, just as surely as God controls the direction of our lives; He also controls the disruptions of our lives, Rom. 8:28.

He controls the valleys. He determines their depth, their length and their duration. He sends the valley seasons into our lives to develop us and to make us more like the Lord Jesus Christ, Rom. 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren;

Eph. 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. So, if God loves us, and He does; if He sends the valleys our way, and He does; we would be foolish to waste those valleys.

As we consider the divisions of this Psalm, let’s take the time to reflect on what God is doing in us as we move through our valleys. Notice the characteristics of the valleys that are revealed in this Psalm. These characteristics teach us why we would be foolish to waste the valleys God sends our way.

I. THE PAIN IN THE VALLEY

A. v. 3 The Pain Of Darkness—No Help—The context: The rebellion of Absalom, and the revolt of Ahithophel, Psa. 41:9. There seems to be no end to the pain, and no light at the end of the tunnel. Many are in this dark valley!

B. v. 4 The Pain Of Depression—No Heart—Overwhelmed = shrouded, carries the idea of being encased in darkness; Desolate = Stunned, stupefied carries the idea of total astonishment. It’s as if David cannot believe what has happened to him. It’s as if he has no heart to go on. Many walk in this dark valley today!

C. v. 7 The Pain Of Despair—No Hope—Faileth = To be at the end!) David feels that he has reached the end of his rope and that if God doesn’t lift the veil of his darkness, then he is no better off than those who perish in hell! Many are walking in this dark valley right now.

D. If you are one of the many in this valley, let me tell you, there is hope for you today. You may feel that life has become unbearable. However, I let me encourage you this morning. With all the despair, there is also reason to rejoice in this Psalm.

II. THE PRIZE IN THE VALLEY

A. v. 2 The Prize Of Repentance—Our Sins—David’s failures and his repentance of sin, Psa. 32; 51 Our Dark Valleys are not always caused by sin! However, when we begin to seek God, our sin will become an issue that must be dealt with, Psa. 66:18; 1 John 1:9. Regardless of whether or not sin is responsible for our valley, we are still sinners in need of repentance. Anything that brings us into a closer relationship with God is a prize!

B. v. 5 The Prize Of Remembrance—Our Sovereign—David had much to remember! The stories of what God had done for Israel, and closer home, the great things God had done for him personally. Ill. The lion, the bear, the giant, Saul, etc!

When walking through the dark valley, remember what God has done. Review your life and read His word. It will refresh your heart! (Ill. William Cowper, that great hymn writer was in the depths of despair. He hired a carriage drive to take him to London Bridge. His plan was to throw himself into the river and end his life. However, when the driver picked him up and started for the bridge, they found themselves driving for hours in dense fog. Frustrated, Cowper demanded that the driver stop and let him out to walk. When he stepped from the carriage, he was shocked to find that he was standing in front of his own door. It became apparent to him that the Lord still had a use for his life. He entered his home and penned the words to that famous song, “God works in mysterious ways”) When we are in the valley, we need a fresh encounter with the Lord!

C. v. 6 The Prize Of Reliance—Our Self—Dry, parched, cracked ground that longs for the refreshing rains. David knew he couldn’t produce what he needed.

Therefore, he looked to God. The dark valley will cause you to come to the end of yourself, and when that happens, you can begin to rely on a big God! Pro. 3:5–6; Rom. 8:28; 2 Cor. 4:17

D. As terrible as the dark valleys of life are, they are also valuable. Because it is in the valley that we learn eternal truths about God that energize and strengthen our faith.

Yes, there is Pain. Yes, there are Prizes. But, thank God, there is a path out of the Dark Valley

III. THE PATH FROM THE VALLEY

A. v. 1, 6, 8a, 9a, 11–12 The Path Of Prayer—Waiting—Several times in these verses, David refers to his prayers. I am certain that there were times when David wanted to stop praying, but he didn’t! Prayer—We are commended to pray—1 Thes. 5:17; Rom. 12:12; God has promised to answer prayer—Isa. 65:24; John 16:23; Jer. 33:3

Our duty is to pray! Pray when God says “yes”, pray when He says “no”, pray when He says “wait”. Pray! Prayer is more than a religious activity, it is a path out of the dark valley! (Ill. George Washington at Valley Forge in 1776, he didn’t give up. He kept praying! You do the same!)

B. v. 10b The Path Of Praise—Worshiping—In the midst of this sad Psalm, David issues a small word of praise. He reminds us that God is good! Ever person who walks in the Dark Valley this morning would do well to adopt an attitude of praise!

Job—Job 1:20–22—He worshiped and didn’t accuse God!) (Ill. Luther Bridgers who authored “There Withing My Heart A Melody”. He penned this great song just after losing his entire family in a tragic house fire.)) If we cannot praise the Lord in the valley, then we have no business praising Him when we are on the mountain! (Ill. What can I praise Him for—Luke 10:20) (Why should I praise Him? 1.) He is worthy—Rev. 4:11; 2:) It will help you—Neh. 8:10 . Pro. 17:22

C. v. 8b, 9b, 10a The Path Of Practice—Walking—Ill. David’s desire is to do the will of God. Ill. This ought to be the goal of every saint! When we fail in walking with the Lord, we bring dishonor to Him and more discouragement to our own hearts.

(Ill. 1936 German Women’s Olympic 400 meter relay team! One of the runners dropped the baton. The French papers said they dropped the witness.) Don’t drop your witness! A consistent walk is a path out of the dark valley! You can beat the circumstance, don’t let it beat you!

Conc: That personal relationship and consistent walk with the Lord Jesus will help the sufferer to come out of the dark valley. He has never failed others, He will never fail you!