A Valley Means a Wrong Turn
URBAN LEGENDS – Wk 7
A Valley Means a Wrong Turn
A Valle y Me ans a Wron g Tu rn Three questions yo u sho uld ask when you’re in a valley: Q1. _______ _____ a re you there? 1. __________ sent you to the valley. 2. _________ messed up. 3. __________ knows why?
Q2. How should you ________ ______ _? 1. If God sent you to the valley, then you should __________ _____________ knowing that you are right where God ___________ you to be. ( Ex od us 14:1-4) 2. If you messed up, then you should take ____________________ for it and ____________ of your actions. (J os hua 7:10-1 2) 3. If you don’t know why you are in the valley, then trust
God, serve him with all your heart, and don’t take the ______________ __________ of the enemy. (Job 13:15, 2024)
Q3. What can you _________ ______? Jam es 1:2-5 ( NI V) Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
Getting Started:
1. What is the first movie, or part of a movie, that you remember scaring you as a kid? 2. What is one of your biggest fears (ie. the dark, being alone, heights)?
Going Deeper:
The idea that every long-term valley is a mistake and should automatically be wiggled out of is a fallacy. It’s based on a spiritual urban legend that can’t stand up to scrutiny: the belief that God only leads us to the mountain top and that long-term valleys always mean a wrong turn. It ignores the long history of God’s dealings with His people and the clear teaching in Scripture that Pastor Scott discussed Sunday morning. David gives us insight into the ‘valley’ times in our lives:
Read Psalms 23
1. The 23rd Psalm has been referred to as the "nightingale of the Psalms." The nightingale sits in the dark and shadowy places and sings. Why do you think it is referred to as such? 2. In vs.1-3 the Psalmist David, uses the terms ‘He’ and ‘Lord’, when referring to God, but in vs.4-5 he switches from ‘He’ to ‘You’. Why do you think that is? What does this say about our relationship with God during difficult times? 3. In v.4 it speaks of a rod and staff. These were key tools for the successful shepherding. They helped protect the sheep from intruders, they kept the sheep from straying, they were used in discipline, and they were used in guiding. Why should each of these elements give us ‘comfort’? 4. Ultimately, v.1 sums up this chapter. What is its message? Why is that key to understanding when you are going through the ‘valley’?
Acting Out:
1. Read/Recite Psalm 23 each day. It serves as a powerful reminder in times of comfort and trials. Ask God to reveal something new to you each day about this chapter. 2. Write down all 6 verses, and write down something about God’s character, provision or promise next to each verse.
Further Reading This We ek: Psalm 107:4-9 Hebrews 10:19-39 Romans 8:28-38 James 1:1-18
A Valley Means a Wrong Turn
A Valle y Me ans a Wron g Tu rn Three questions yo u sho uld ask when you’re in a valley: Q1. _______ _____ a re you there? 1. __________ sent you to the valley. 2. _________ messed up. 3. __________ knows why?
Q2. How should you ________ ______ _? 1. If God sent you to the valley, then you should __________ _____________ knowing that you are right where God ___________ you to be. ( Ex od us 14:1-4) 2. If you messed up, then you should take ____________________ for it and ____________ of your actions. (J os hua 7:10-1 2) 3. If you don’t know why you are in the valley, then trust
God, serve him with all your heart, and don’t take the ______________ __________ of the enemy. (Job 13:15, 2024)
Q3. What can you _________ ______? Jam es 1:2-5 ( NI V) Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
Getting Started:
1. What is the first movie, or part of a movie, that you remember scaring you as a kid? 2. What is one of your biggest fears (ie. the dark, being alone, heights)?
Going Deeper:
The idea that every long-term valley is a mistake and should automatically be wiggled out of is a fallacy. It’s based on a spiritual urban legend that can’t stand up to scrutiny: the belief that God only leads us to the mountain top and that long-term valleys always mean a wrong turn. It ignores the long history of God’s dealings with His people and the clear teaching in Scripture that Pastor Scott discussed Sunday morning. David gives us insight into the ‘valley’ times in our lives:
Read Psalms 23
1. The 23rd Psalm has been referred to as the "nightingale of the Psalms." The nightingale sits in the dark and shadowy places and sings. Why do you think it is referred to as such? 2. In vs.1-3 the Psalmist David, uses the terms ‘He’ and ‘Lord’, when referring to God, but in vs.4-5 he switches from ‘He’ to ‘You’. Why do you think that is? What does this say about our relationship with God during difficult times? 3. In v.4 it speaks of a rod and staff. These were key tools for the successful shepherding. They helped protect the sheep from intruders, they kept the sheep from straying, they were used in discipline, and they were used in guiding. Why should each of these elements give us ‘comfort’? 4. Ultimately, v.1 sums up this chapter. What is its message? Why is that key to understanding when you are going through the ‘valley’?
Acting Out:
1. Read/Recite Psalm 23 each day. It serves as a powerful reminder in times of comfort and trials. Ask God to reveal something new to you each day about this chapter. 2. Write down all 6 verses, and write down something about God’s character, provision or promise next to each verse.
Further Reading This We ek: Psalm 107:4-9 Hebrews 10:19-39 Romans 8:28-38 James 1:1-18
