Finding Hope and Strength in Life's Valleys

Devotional

Day 1: God is Near in the Valley

When you find yourself in the valley—whether it’s a season of depression, anxiety, or hardship—it can feel like God has turned away or that you’re alone in your struggle. But Scripture assures us that God draws especially close to the brokenhearted and those crushed in spirit. In your darkest moments, God is not distant; He is near, offering comfort, strength, and hope. You may feel like you’re in a place where no one else understands, but God is right there with you, ready to save and deliver. [41:09]

Psalm 34:18 (ESV)
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

Reflection: When have you felt most alone or brokenhearted? Can you take a moment today to invite God into that memory or current struggle, asking Him to show you how He is near to you right now?

Day 2: The Battle Belongs to the Lord

Life’s greatest battles are often fought in the valleys, not on the mountaintops. When you face giants—overwhelming fears, challenges, or temptations—remember that victory does not depend on your strength or resources, but on God’s power. Like David, you can step into the valley with confidence, knowing that the Lord fights for you and that the outcome is in His hands. Your greatest fears can become your greatest testimonies when you trust that the battle is the Lord’s. [34:52]

1 Samuel 17:47 (ESV)
And that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hand.

Reflection: What “giant” are you facing right now that feels too big for you? How can you surrender this battle to God today and trust Him to fight for you?

Day 3: Trouble is Temporary

It’s easy to believe that the valley you’re in will last forever, but God promises that trouble is only for a season. Even when suffering seems unending, God is working to deliver you, and the pain of today cannot compare to the glory He has prepared for you. Just as Goliath’s taunts seemed endless until God intervened, your present struggles will not have the final word—God’s deliverance and peace are coming. [45:58]

Romans 8:18 (ESV)
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

Reflection: Think of a struggle that feels never-ending. What would it look like to hold onto hope and remind yourself that this trouble is temporary in light of God’s promises?

Day 4: Weakness is the Doorway to God’s Strength

We often try to handle our problems on our own, believing we should be strong enough to manage life’s challenges. But it’s in our weakness that God’s power is made perfect. When you reach the end of your own strength, you discover the sufficiency of God’s grace. Letting go of self-reliance and inviting Jesus to take the lead in your life opens the way for true transformation and victory in your valleys. [41:53]

2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV)
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Reflection: What is one area of weakness or struggle you’ve been trying to manage on your own? How can you invite God’s strength into that area today?

Day 5: Your Valley Becomes Your Testimony

The valleys you walk through are not just about you—they are opportunities for God to shape your character and to reveal His love and power to others. As you experience God’s comfort and deliverance, you gain a testimony that can encourage and comfort those around you. Sharing how God has brought you through your valleys can inspire hope and faith in others, pointing them to the same God who delivers and transforms. [49:52]

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (ESV)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Reflection: Who in your life could be encouraged by hearing how God has helped you through a difficult season? Will you reach out and share your story with them this week?

Sermon Summary

Life is full of valleys—those seasons when darkness seems to settle in, when the days grow short, and when our strength is tested. Just as I once found myself lost and exhausted in the rain-soaked valleys of Oregon, dragging a deer and questioning my resolve, we all encounter moments when the weight of life feels too much to bear. In these valleys, whether they are brought on by depression, anxiety, loss, or struggle, it’s easy to justify giving up or making choices we know aren’t right. But it’s in these very places of weakness and weariness that God draws near.

David, the shepherd boy who faced Goliath in the Valley of Elah, knew what it meant to be in the valley. He wasn’t a mighty warrior, but he remembered God’s faithfulness in past struggles—with the lion and the bear—and trusted that the same God would deliver him again. The battle was not won on the mountaintop, but in the valley, when David was at his weakest and most vulnerable. The same God who delivered David is with us in our valleys today. Our struggles are not a sign that God has abandoned us; rather, Scripture tells us that God is especially close to the brokenhearted and those crushed in spirit.

Trouble is not a possibility—it’s a certainty. Scripture doesn’t say “if” trials come, but “when.” Yet, these valleys are not permanent. What feels like it will last forever is, in God’s hands, only temporary. The suffering we endure now cannot compare to the glory that will be revealed. More than that, the valleys are transformational. David entered the valley as a boy and left as a man, a hero, and eventually a king. Our own valleys shape our character, deepen our hope, and become the foundation of our testimony.

Jesus himself faced the ultimate valley at the cross, sweating blood in anguish, yet trusting that the suffering was temporary and that resurrection was coming. We are not meant to walk through valleys alone. God invites us to call on Him, to let Him be the one who lifts us out, and to share our stories so others can see His faithfulness. Whether you’re in a valley or on a mountaintop, God is the same—faithful, present, and mighty to save.

Key Takeaways

1. Valleys Are Unavoidable, But Not Unredeemable Every life will encounter valleys—times of trouble, loss, or confusion. Scripture is clear that trials are not a matter of “if” but “when,” and we shouldn’t be surprised when they come. Yet, these valleys are not wasted; they are the very places where God’s redemption and deliverance are most powerfully displayed. [38:11]
2. God Draws Nearest in Our Weakness When we are brokenhearted or crushed in spirit, God is not distant—He is closer than ever. Our feelings of abandonment in the valley are often lies; the truth is that God’s presence is most tangible when we have nothing left but Him. In our weakness, His strength is made perfect, and we discover a deeper intimacy with Him than we ever could on the mountaintop. [41:09]
3. Trouble Is Temporary, But God’s Deliverance Is Eternal The valleys we walk through may feel endless, but they are not our final destination. Just as Goliath’s taunts seemed unending until the day David stepped forward, our troubles have an expiration date in God’s timing. The suffering of today cannot compare to the glory and peace that God promises to those who trust Him. [45:58]
4. Transformation Happens in the Valley It is in the valley that God shapes our character, builds our endurance, and gives us a testimony. David entered the valley as an unknown shepherd and emerged as a national hero; likewise, our struggles refine us and prepare us for greater things. The pain of the valley becomes the story of God’s faithfulness that we can share with others, offering hope and comfort. [46:50]
5. We Are Not Meant to Walk Alone—Call on God and Share Your Story We were never designed to navigate the valleys of life by ourselves. God invites us to call on Him, to surrender our self-reliance, and to let Him lead us out. Our testimonies of God’s deliverance are not just for us—they are meant to encourage and comfort others who are still in their own valleys.

** [49:52]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[26:50] - Opening Day and Hunting Story
[28:21] - Lost in the Valleys: A Personal Struggle
[29:40] - The Temptation to Give Up
[30:20] - Life’s Valleys and Emotional Struggles
[31:00] - God of the Valleys: Introduction
[32:16] - David and the Valley of Elah
[33:41] - David’s Confidence in God’s Faithfulness
[34:52] - The Battle Belongs to the Lord
[35:47] - Victories Are Won in the Valley
[37:27] - The Same God Then and Now
[38:11] - Trouble Is Predicted
[40:14] - God Draws Near in Our Struggles
[42:56] - Surrendering Self-Reliance
[44:19] - Trouble Is Temporary
[46:21] - Trouble Is Transformational
[49:52] - Testimonies Built in the Valley
[50:37] - Jesus’ Valley at the Cross
[53:04] - Calling on God in the Valley
[54:54] - Invitation to Trust Jesus
[56:17] - Sharing Your Testimony from the Mountaintop
[60:39] - Announcements and Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Psalm 34:17-19 (ESV) — > When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.

1 Samuel 17:45-47 (ESV) — > Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head... that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hand.”

Romans 8:18 (ESV) — > For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

Observation Questions

According to Psalm 34:17-19, what does God promise to do for the righteous when they are in trouble or brokenhearted?
In the story of David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17:45-47), what does David say about who the battle truly belongs to?
The sermon mentioned that trouble is not a matter of “if” but “when.” What evidence from Scripture or the sermon supports this idea? [[38:11]]
How does Romans 8:18 describe the relationship between present suffering and future glory?

Interpretation Questions

The sermon says that God is especially close to the brokenhearted and those crushed in spirit. Why might God choose to draw near to us in our weakest moments? [[41:09]]
David remembered God’s faithfulness with the lion and the bear before facing Goliath. How does remembering past experiences with God help us face new valleys or challenges? [[33:41]]
The sermon claims that valleys are transformational, not just painful. In what ways can going through a valley change a person’s character or faith? [[46:50]]
The pastor shared a personal story about being tempted to give up when tired and worn out. What does this reveal about the connection between exhaustion and temptation? [[29:10]]

Application Questions

The sermon said, “Trouble is not a possibility—it’s a certainty.” When you look at your own life, what is one valley you are currently facing or have recently faced? How did you respond to it? [[38:11]]
When you are in a “valley” season, do you tend to pull away from God or draw closer? What is one practical step you could take this week to invite God into your struggle? [[41:09]]
David’s confidence came from remembering God’s past faithfulness. Can you share a time when God helped you in the past? How might that memory encourage you (or someone else) in a current struggle? [[33:41]]
The sermon said, “You don’t discover God’s strength until yours runs out.” Is there an area of your life where you are still trying to be the “CEO” and fix things on your own? What would it look like to surrender that to God? [[43:38]]
The pastor mentioned that our testimonies are built in the valley and are meant to encourage others. Who is someone in your life who might need to hear about how God has helped you? How could you share your story with them this week? [[49:52]]
Jesus faced the ultimate valley at the cross, trusting that suffering was temporary and resurrection was coming. How does Jesus’ example shape the way you view your own suffering or valleys? [[51:20]]
If you are currently on a “mountaintop” (a good season), are you sharing your testimony with others? What is one way you can encourage someone who is still in a valley? [[56:17]]

Sermon Clips

The battle was not decided on the mountaintop. It was decided in the valley. And that's where our battles are fought, not when we're the strongest. You know, sometimes we're on that mountaintop and everything's going good. And our spiritual walk is going good, our physical walk is going good, and we're on those mountaintops and everything's going great. And if you're on a mountaintop today, thank God for that mountaintop. But the battles that we're going to find fight are going to be when we're in the valley, when we're in the weakest part of our lives, in the darkest part of our lives, when we cry, when we say to ourselves, God, where have you gone? That valley of trouble become a valley of triumph. [00:35:55] (46 seconds) #VictoryInTheValley

I had to realize that it doesn't matter what issue you have, from the smallest issue to the largest issue, you can't do it yourself. I was teaching the other night at Celebrate Recovery and I told everybody I had to fire the CEO of my life because I was the CEO. I was making all of the decisions to run my life. And I realized that I couldn't manage myself and so I had to fire myself. I had to take the CEO and kick out the old management and I had to bring Jesus into my life and make him the new manager. [00:43:38] (34 seconds) #FireTheOldCEO

Trouble is temporary. You ever felt like you're in a place and is always going to be like this, like this is the end of the world, Like I'm never going to have life after this problem. Sometimes we feel that way. We get into the valleys and we say, we're always going to be in this valley. But trouble is temporary. [00:44:31] (19 seconds) #TroubleIsTemporary

David walked into the valley as a boy, and he walked out of the valley as a man. David walked into the valley as a nobody, as a shepherd. Nobody knew who David was at this point. And David goes into the giant, goes into the valley, kills the giant, and he comes out a national hero. The valley didn't just change the circumstances, it changed him, and it didn't just change him, but it changed the whole nation. [00:46:23] (27 seconds) #ValleyTransformsMan

Jesus faced a giant at the cross. The Bible said that the night before Jesus was going to the cross, that he was sweating out blood. And science proves that a human can sweat out blood, but the only way that a human can sweat out blood is by being in a state of mind, of fear like none other, like distress. And all of this, most of us in this room, probably none of us in this room will ever have to go through that. [00:50:48] (31 seconds) #JesusFacedHisGiant

But I can pick up the phone anytime and call God, anytime in these valleys, anytime in the darkest places, anytime that my mind wanders, anytime that I. I feel scared or hopeless. And we all can do that. We can call our heavenly Father and he's going to pick up that phone because God is going to get us out of these valleys. [00:53:11] (25 seconds) #CallOnGodAnytime

We weren't even designed to get out of that valley alone. We weren't designed to walk this life without God in our life. I have to look around in this world and say, how do people do it without God? And then I realize they can't do it. Most of the time. They're just faking through life and they're trying to do it on their own. [00:54:21] (21 seconds) #NotMeantToWalkAlone

No, here's the bottom line is Jesus wants you to bring everything that you have to him and he wants to take all of those things that you have. He wants to help you get through those and get you out of that valley and get you into the mountaintops where we were created to worship God. [00:55:13] (22 seconds) #BringItAllToJesus

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