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April 25, 2010

STRESSBUSTERS – THE ANTIDOTE FOR DARK VALLEY’S

GETTING TO KNOW YOU….

1.Spring has ‘Sprung’ around the Central Illinois Area. What is your favorite spring activity? What are you/do you look forward to most when it comes to spring?

2. We All Deal With ‘Valley’s’ in Life…. Some of Which are ‘Dark’ Valleys. What is the Darkest Valley you have ever dealt with in your life? Share what the valley was and how it was that you dealt with it?

DIGGING DEEPER….

1. In our scripture passage this week, the Psalmist David said, ‘Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.’ (Psalm 23:4)
a. What comes to your mind when you think of that phrase: ‘the valley of the shadow of death’?
b. Dave on Sunday mentioned several valley’s found in scripture. What are some of the ‘valley’s’ you can think of that we deal with in our lives?

2. On Sunday, Dave took time to look specifically at the words used in this verse and their meaning…

a. ‘Shadow’

1) What is a shadow?
2) What impact can a shadow have on you?
3) What is it that causes a shadow that should give us encouragement?

b. ‘Rod’

1) Remember, a ‘Rod’ was a 2 foot long stick with a heavy knot on the end of it… Shepherds were skilled at hurling the rod like a missile at anything that would attack the sheep…

2) since we are God’s Sheep… He is our shepherd, how does the fact that he has a ‘rod’ comfort us?

c. ‘Staff’

1) A ‘Staff’ was a long stick with a crooked end on it… it was used to reach out and lift the sheep, allowing the shepherd to bring them to himself.
2) What does the fact that God as our shepherd has a ‘staff’ mean to us?

3. Following are the 3 things that Dave Referred to as what we should do when we are going thru Dark Valley’s. Read them through and discuss how you can/should implement them in your personal life to gain victory over the Dark Valley’s

A. Refuse To Be Discouraged ‘I will fear no evil’
‘God will strengthen you with his own great power so that you will not give up when troubles come, but you will be patient.’ Col.1:11 (NCV)

B. Remember That God Is With You ‘For you are with me.’
‘When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up—the flames will not consume you.’ Isaiah 43:2 (LB)

C. Rely On God’s Protection And Guidance
‘Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.’
‘The good man does not escape all troubles – he has them too. But the Lord helps him in each and every one.’ Psalm 34:19 (LB)

4. Probably the most important thing Dave emphasized Sunday was that Valley’s Are Purposeful.

‘..at the present you may be temporarily harassed by all kinds of trials. This is no accident—it happens to prove your faith…’ I Peter 1:6b-7 (Ph)

a. Think back through your life… specifically of the ‘valley’s’. What are some of the things/lessons you have learned and how have you matured through them.

‘And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.’ Romans 8:28 (KJV)

TAKING IT HOME

Right now there are others around you who are going through ‘Dark Valley’s’ in their personal life.

#1 – Add them to your personal prayer list and remember them daily in your prayer time…
#2 – As God for the opportunity to share with them how He was with you through your ‘Dark Valley’… Become an encouragement to them.
#3 – Pray that God might make our church, Trinity, a haven of encouragement and hope for those who are going through ‘Dark Valley’s’ in their life…