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Psalm23
September 13, 2014

The Secret to Navigating Difficult Times

by Dennis Rouse
Psalm 23:1-6 NKJThe Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie downin green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restoresmy soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’ssake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, Iwill fear no
Sermon Notes

Psalm 23:1-6 NKJ
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down
in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores
my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s
sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I
will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they
comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my
enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely
goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will
dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Psalm 23:4 NIV
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for
you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Types of Valleys:
• The Valley of Calamity (Joshua 7:26 TLB)
• The Valley of Weeping (Psalm 84:6 TLB)
• The Valley of Trouble (Hosea 2:15 NCV)
• The Valley of Deep Darkness (Psalm 23:4 NIV)
Things to Know About Difficult Times:

  1. Difficult times are INEVITABLE.
    John 16:33 NLT
    “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on
    earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I
    have overcome the world.”
    1 Peter 4:12-13 NLT
    Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going
    through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be
    very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his
    suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory
    when it is revealed to all the world.
  2. Difficult times are UNPREDICTABLE.
  3. Difficult times are IMPARTIAL.
    Matthew 5:45 CEV
    Then you will be acting like your Father in heaven. He makes the sun
    rise on both good and bad people. And he sends rain for the ones
    who do right and for the ones who do wrong.
  4. Difficult times are TEMPORARY.
    1 Peter 1:6 NLT
    So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must
    endure many trials for a little while.
    2 Corinthians 4:17 NLT
    For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they
    produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!
  5. Difficult times are PURPOSEFUL.
    1 Peter 1:7 NLT
    These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as
    fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious
    than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many
    trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day
    when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
    1 Peter 5:10 NKJ
    But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by
    Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish,
    strengthen, and settle you.

How to Navigate Difficult Times:

  1. REFUSE TO BE DISCOURAGED.
    1 Samuel 30:3-6 NKJ
    So David and his men came to the city, and there it was, burned with
    fire; and their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken
    captive. Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their
    voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep. And David’s
    two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal
    the Carmelite, had been taken captive. Now David was greatly
    distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of
    all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters.
    But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.
  2. FOCUS ON THE PROMISE INSTEAD OF THE PROBLEM.
    2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NKJ
    Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is
    perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our
    light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more
    exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the
    things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the
    things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not
    seen are eternal.
    Romans 8:28 NKJ
    And we know that all things work together for good to those who love
    God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
  3. SPEAK THE WORD IN SPITE OF YOUR THOUGHTS.
    Hebrews 10:23 NKJ
    Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He
    who promised is faithful.
    Isaiah 43:2 NLT
    When you go through deep waters, 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.
    Proverbs 18:21 NKJ
    Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it
    will eat its fruit.
    Proverbs 18:21 MSG
    Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit—you choose
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