The Valley of Dark Shadows         

Sermon by Pastor Dennis Gleason -- August 22, 2004

Psalm 23:4  “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want…even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me…”

As we continue our journey through Psalm 23 we notice something important in this section of the Psalm. There is a change of person. The Psalmist says
* he makes me lie down;
* he leads me;
* he restores my soul;
* he guides me in the paths of righteousness.
And then there is a change from “he” – the shepherd to “I” and “me” in reference to the sheep
* Even though I walk
* I will fear no evil
* For you are with me

When a shepherd would take his sheep to their summer range it would necessitate a trip through the valleys to get to the meadows of green grass. There the sheep would have plenty to eat and be alone with the shepherd. Out in the Western part of the United States there are many places where sheep are taken up into the mountains where the grass is plentiful and the water is sufficient for the needs of the flock. To get there the shepherd must lead them up through the valleys. Many of the valleys have steep cliffs on either side. In many of them there is sunlight on the valley floor for just a couple of hours around noon. The rest of the time the valley is in shadow. The shepherd has to be alert to protect the flock from predators while going through the shadows. There is danger in the valleys. It may be from predators, or snow and sleet even in July, or the possibility of flash floods that may sweep away members of the shepherd’s flock.

The valleys are the gentlest, easiest route to the alpine meadows in the mountains. If you look at the Western part of our country and follow the highways, you will see that they all follow the valleys up into and over the mountains. And almost all the highways follow the river valleys. The easiest routes through the mountains for the sheep are through the valleys.

The valleys are also the best watered routes for the sheep. Most sheep are found in arid or semi-arid regions of the world. It is in the valleys that the sheep will find water. It is in the valleys that the shepherd will find rivers, streams, springs and pools of quiet water for his sheep.

The message of the sheep here is that even in the valley of dark shadows, the valley of the shadow of death, he will not be afraid… because the shepherd is with him.
The sheep must walk through the valleys. That is the picture the Psalmist gives us. The trip through the valley of dark shadows is part of the life of the sheep. On the way to higher ground through the valley the shepherd leads the sheep. There is always danger out there. The sheep do not stay in the valley of dark shadows or die there. No, they pass through them. The Psalmist says that he passes through the valley, but he is not alone. The shepherd, the Lord who is his shepherd is there with him. His presence protects, and encourages the sheep in the valley.

The Bible tells us that “perfect love casts out fear.”  I might be afraid. I could be afraid. But I shouldn’t be afraid, because I have the shepherd who cares for his sheep, as my shepherd. He is with us all the time. The key for us is to believe Jesus Christ when he says, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

We often readily admit that we believe in God. The real question for us is this:  do we believe God and what He has said to us in His Word? Is Jesus really with us? Is the Good Shepherd really always with me?

5-year old Johnny was in the kitchen as his mother made supper. She asked him to go into the pantry and get her a can of tomato soup, but he didn't want to go in alone. "It's dark in there and I'm scared." She asked again, and he persisted. Finally she said, "It's OK--Jesus will be in there with you." Johnny walked hesitantly to the door and slowly opened it. He peeked inside, saw it was dark, and started to leave when all at once an idea came, and he said: "Jesus, if you're in there, would you hand me that can of tomato soup?" Charles Allen, Victory in the Valleys.

Faith for my deliverance is not faith in God. Faith means, whether I am visibly delivered or not, I will stick to my belief that God is love. There are some things only learned in a fiery furnace. Oswald Chambers in Run Today's Race.

I am inwardly fashioned for faith, not for fear. Fear is not my native land; faith is. I am so made that worry and anxiety are sand in the machinery of life; faith is the oil. I live better by faith and confidence than by fear, doubt and anxiety. In anxiety and worry, my being is gasping for breath--these are not my native air. But in faith and confidence, I breathe freely--these are my native air. A John Hopkins University doctor says, "We do not know why it is that worriers die sooner than the non-worriers, but that is a fact." But I, who am simple of mind, think I know; We are inwardly constructed in nerve and tissue, brain cell and soul, for faith and not for fear. God made us that way. To live by worry is to live against reality. Dr. E. Stanley Jones.

I remember reading about the Missionary to Burma and China, Hudson Taylor. He wrote a letter to his wife about how things were going for them as they sought to share the gospel. He wrote:  “We have twenty-five cents and all the promises of God.”  He had more than enough and nothing to worry about.

Would we have that same faith and confidence in God’s willingness and ability to provide for us?

The Psalmist says,  “I will fear no evil” …why? It is because the shepherd is there with him. He is present with his flock all the time.

Can you think back over the events of your life and remember those times when the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ Himself was faithful to provide for you exactly what you needed?

I can remember as if it were yesterday the time in my life when I was told that my credentials were being revoked and that I would have to leave my church because of what I believed about the Holy Spirit. I was out in California as pastor of a home mission church in Willits, a small town about 150 miles north of San Francisco.

I had been attending our annual conference at the time. On the last day of the conference I was informed about the decisions that had been made revoking my position in our Ministerial Association and the church I would have to leave.

As I walked over the express way to meet RuthAnn and the boys, I was as alone as I have ever been. I was 2000 miles from home. I had a wife and two boys to provide for and I was being divorced by my church. The thought came to me and I expressed it to the Lord like this:  “Well, Lord, I guess it is just You and me. And that is enough.”  I had the unshakable confidence that in the midst of the disaster that was upon us, that God was there with us and that He would provide for us.

Plan A wasn’t working very well and it would be on to Plan B. The problem of course was that I did not have a clue as to what Plan B was going to be. It was not very long before I was hired as a manager trainee at the local McDonalds. It proved to be the worst job I ever had and I had to endure it for 15 months. But it paid the bills! And during that time I was able to have a ministry that was rewarding and that prepared me for Plan B.

One day the Lord told me that we were to go back to Illinois to start a new church. That was the new Plan B. When I finally agreed to go, I gave the Lord my “conditions” for going back. He would have to find a way to get me out of the job at McDonalds (I had promised to make a career change to McDonalds as a condition of being hired as a trainee), provide me with a job in the interim period in Illinois before the church could be started, a place to live and money to actually travel the 2000 miles back to Illinois.

Over the next two weeks the Lord arranged for me to get fired from my job at McDonalds (that saved me the ethical problem of quitting and breaking my promise to  my boss at McDonalds), provided the job in Illinois ( I had to be there for an interview by August 1st for a job that was already mine), arranged for us to have a place to live and gave us just enough money to get back to Illinois and provide for us until I got paid on my new job. He met every need and did it so graciously and generously.

At every step in this process we had the overwhelming sense of the presence of the Lord and peace that He was in control even when our life seemed so out of control.

We all go through dark valleys. There are difficulties and problems in this life that perplex us and challenge our faith. Remember the words of Jesus…”In this world you will have troubles, but have no fear for I have overcome the world.”? (John 16:33)

He overcame it all so that we might pass through the valleys of dark shadows safely. He promised to be with us and that we would never have to go through them alone. Please note that God never said that we would avoid the valley of dark shadows. No, he just said that we would not go through them alone.

Jeremiah 29:11-14a tells us this:  “ I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you.” declares the LORD.

What plan are you working on? Plan A? Plan B? or Plan L, M, N. O, P? Sometimes things don’t go the way we plan or figure they should. God simply says “walk with me. Trust me. Follow me as I lead you through the valleys of dark shadows. Don’t be afraid. Don’t despair. I will be with you. And if I am with you, I will provide for you says the Lord.” The end result is that you will not be in want, the Lord says to us through the Psalmist.

We want to live with God on the mountain tops, in the high places of spiritual refreshing. To get there, we will have to pass through the valleys filled with dark shadows. We will be challenged and perhaps become fearful when we do not know what is coming tomorrow. Have no fear! He who holds tomorrow in His hand also holds you securely in His hand.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want…that is the promise of God to us. And God keeps His promises!

-- Dennis Gleason