Finding Miracles in Life's Overwhelming Valleys

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. **Psalm 46:1-3** - "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the Earth gives way, though the mountains be moved to the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling."
2. **Joshua 10:12-14** - "At that time Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord gave the Amorites over to the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, 'Sun, stand still at Gibeon, and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.' And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until the nation took vengeance on their enemies."

#### Observation Questions
1. What does Psalm 46:1-3 say about God's role in our times of trouble?
2. How did Joshua's faith and God's intervention lead to victory in Joshua 10:12-14?
3. According to the sermon, what are some practical steps the speaker suggests for coping with feelings of being overwhelmed? ([39:48])
4. What personal experiences did the speaker share to illustrate their own moments of feeling overwhelmed? ([35:54])

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does Psalm 46:1-3 encourage believers to face their fears and challenges?
2. In what ways does the story of Joshua and the sun standing still demonstrate God's power and willingness to intervene in our lives? ([33:36])
3. How can the practical steps mentioned in the sermon (walking, talking to a friend, prayer, and worship) help someone manage their feelings of being overwhelmed? ([39:48])
4. What does the speaker's transparency about their own struggles teach us about the importance of vulnerability and honesty in our faith journey? ([37:29])

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt overwhelmed. How did you cope with it, and what role did your faith play during that period? ([35:10])
2. The speaker mentioned taking practical steps like walking and talking to a friend to manage feelings of being overwhelmed. Which of these steps could you incorporate into your life, and how might they help you? ([39:48])
3. Joshua's faith led to a miraculous intervention from God. Is there a situation in your life where you need to exercise similar faith? How can you take a step of faith this week? ([33:36])
4. The speaker shared their fear of trying new things but overcame it for a greater cause. What fear is holding you back, and how can you confront it with God's help? ([29:26])
5. The sermon emphasized the partnership between our efforts and God's provision. What practical steps can you take this week to manage your feelings of being overwhelmed while trusting in God's guidance? ([38:58])
6. How can you support someone in your life who is currently feeling overwhelmed? What specific actions can you take to be a source of encouragement and help to them? ([37:29])
7. The speaker mentioned that valleys are places where miracles are released. How can you shift your perspective to see your current challenges as opportunities for God's intervention? ([43:04])

Day 1: Valleys as Arenas for Miracles
Valleys in life are not designed for defeat but are the stages where God's miracles are most visible. Like David facing Goliath and Ezekiel witnessing the revival of dry bones, our deepest challenges can become powerful testimonies of God's might and grace. This perspective shifts the believer's view of their struggles, seeing them as opportunities for divine intervention and triumph. [43:04]

Habakkuk 3:19 - "The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights."
Reflection: Can you identify a "valley" in your life where you need to trust God for a miracle? How can you shift your perspective to see this challenge as an opportunity for God's intervention?

Day 2: Trust Overwhelms Overwhelm
When life's demands and sorrows weigh heavily, it's vital to remember that God doesn't expect us to face these times alone. Practical steps, coupled with faith, can transform feelings of overwhelm into trust in God. Walking, talking to a friend, and refocusing through prayer and worship are practical ways to find peace in chaos. [39:48]

Isaiah 50:10 - "Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the word of his servant? Let the one who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the LORD and rely on their God."
Reflection: What is one practical step you can take today to alleviate feelings of being overwhelmed, and how can you incorporate trust in God into this action?

Day 3: Divine Timing in Our Battles
The story of Joshua's victory over the Amorite Kings is a testament to God's timely assistance in our direst battles. The miraculous event of the sun standing still over the valley of Aijalon symbolizes God's ability to extend His help beyond our natural limitations, ensuring we have the time and resources needed to overcome. [31:56]

Joshua 10:12-13 - "On the day the LORD gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the LORD in the presence of Israel: 'Sun, stand still over Gibeon, and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.' And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until the nation avenged itself on its enemies."
Reflection: Have you ever experienced a moment when you felt God intervened in your situation at just the right time? How can you cultivate patience and trust in God's timing for your current battles?

Day 4: Embracing Vulnerability and Strength
Even spiritual leaders face moments of being overwhelmed, and this transparency bridges the gap between leadership and laity, reminding us that we all need God's strength. Being open about our struggles invites others to be honest about their challenges and to seek God's help together. [35:54]

2 Corinthians 1:8-9 - "We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead."
Reflection: How can you practice vulnerability in your faith community, and in what ways might this openness lead to a deeper reliance on God's strength?

Day 5: Partnership in Overcoming Life's Valleys
Overcoming life's valleys is a dance between our efforts and God's provision. While actionable steps are encouraged to manage feelings of being overwhelmed, it is ultimately God's strength and guidance that sustains us. This partnership ensures we are never alone in our struggles. [38:12]

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 - "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up."
Reflection: What is one area in your life where you can take a practical step towards overcoming a challenge, and how can you simultaneously invite God's strength into that effort?

You probably maybe heard me mention this, but I don't even like going to a new restaurant.

You too?

Yeah, oh cool, we'll talk about it afterwards.

Yeah, I don't even like to go to a new restaurant here in my hometown. Then why would I get on a plane to go to Turkey, to a city I've never been, hoping somebody that I've never met before is going to pick me up and take me to a place where there's no adequate translation for them? Then to put my husband and I on a bus where nobody speaks English and says, "Get off at the stop, get off at the stop." It's at night, you're looking for somebody to pick you up for 15 minutes, and there's nobody there.

And then somebody picks us up that we don't know, and then it goes, the next stop is the same thing. Why would I put myself through that? Because something is more important than my fears. The work of God is more important than my fears. His people around the world are more important than my fears. So I do it afraid.

What is God asking you to do? Do it! Everybody tell your neighbor, just do it! This is a Nike moment. You do what you're afraid of doing, and God will help you.

Psalm 46:1-3 says, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved to the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, the mountains tremble at its swelling."

It doesn't matter if there's earthquakes and tsunamis in your backyard because God is going to give us the opportunity to do what we're afraid of doing, and when we do, He is going to be victorious. He is going to be victorious! Everybody said amen?

Amen!

Okay, I really need to move. I think, not sure... oh yeah, I need to move.

Number three is the Valley of Aijalon. On that day, the Lord gave Israel the victory over the Amorites, and Joshua stood before all of Israel and said to the Lord, "Sun, stop over Gibeon; Moon, stand still over the Valley of Aijalon."

Okay, when the people of the land heard that the Gibeonites became allies with Israel, not one, not two, not three, not four, but five kings joined forces and brought all of their armies against Gibeon. And the Gibeonites said, "We are your servants. Come help us! Hurry, save us! All the Amorite kings from the hill country have brought their armies together to fight us."

So God—here's the thing—Joshua did. Joshua went to God. God gave his thumbs up, so Joshua and his army actually marched all night long and arrived, surprising the coalition army. And God confused those armies so much so that Israel was able to defeat them decisively. They chased the coalition down the road, and what happened next is really amazing.

God sent huge hailstones, and the Bible says that there were more soldiers that died from the hailstones than actually died from the sword. But that's not the finish of it. Then we go back to the verse we just read in Joshua 10. I'm going to read it again: "Joshua stood before all of the Israelites and said to the Lord, 'Sun, stop over Gibeon; Moon, stand still over the Valley of Aijalon.'" And it did!

Oh no, no! You guys should be going, "What? The sun stood still?" I mean, something like that never happened before, and it never happened again. God listened to a man and stopped the sun!

But see, the stopping of the sun is what made it possible for Joshua to finish killing off all the enemies. Now, I stood on the edge of the mountain looking over into that valley back in November last year, and the way the valley is positioned, when Israel's troops came up over the mountain, the sun was at their back, so it blinded all the enemies.

So they're coming with the sun at their back; they can see everything clearly. The armies can't; they're blinded. So Joshua says, "Just keep the sun up there, you know, just keep it up." And not only was it blinding them, but it just gave Joshua time to finish killing absolutely every one of them.

So think of it: confusion, hail, the sun standing still for over a day. God does all of this to help defeat Israel's enemies.

So let's think about it. What is the Valley of Aijalon like in our lives? Well, it's when you feel devastated, stretched to the max, swamped. You feel like you just can't handle anymore. In one word: overwhelmed. Just like the Gibeonites, overwhelmed.

Has anybody ever felt overwhelmed? I have two hands up! I have two hands up! That feeling of being overwhelmed can be when time pressures you. You know you got too much to do, not enough time to do it. That can make you feel overwhelmed. Or decision deadlines, or perhaps information overload, or exhaustion, or devastating losses, or unspeakable disappointments. Oh, relationship problems, and physical problems, and financial problems—all this can cause a person to feel overwhelmed.

But the thing is, it's usually not just one thing, is it? I think we can handle one thing, maybe two, possibly three, but it just keeps coming.

Anybody know what I mean? It just keeps coming, more and more and more. Have you ever felt like, "God, I just can't take it anymore. It's just too much"? Have you ever felt that way? I did this week. I'm still feeling it right now.

Transparency: I wasn't able to run this message by the sermon planning because first I was in Turkey, and the next week I was with my husband in the hospital. So later on in the week, Pastor Bren just texted me, "How are you coming with the sermon?" And I just texted back, "How come we got to live it before we can preach it?"

Yeah, yeah, that's it. So why I'm being transparent and honest with you here is I want you to know that I'm not standing up here preaching at you. You hearing me? I'm not saying you need to do this and you need to do that. No, no, no! I'm standing in the valley of being overwhelmed with you right now.

And so I am speaking from my heart. I'm speaking from my life. I'm not telling you what to do; I'm just telling you what we can do when we are overwhelmed. And that is, we got to know that God is going to fight for us.

Turn to your neighbor and say, "God is going to fight for you. I promise."

Isaiah 41:10: "Fear not, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

That is so beautiful, and that is so powerful—that God is with us in those valleys. And when you're feeling overwhelmed, remember that God is your strength, and He will guide you, and He will help you overcome one issue at a time.

But this valley is just like the other two valleys; it's a partnership. There are things that we have to do, and then God will do what only He can do. When you feel overwhelmed, bring all your challenges and all your emotional overload and cast them at the feet of Jesus.

And then let Him guide you as you take one step at a time. You take one step at a time like He guides. It also helps if you get your mind off of feeling overwhelmed. You know, take a walk, clear your head, talk to a friend about it.

I'll tell you what really helps: refocusing with prayer, the Word, and worship. But here's what I want you to know: it's just going to be one step at a time. It's not going to be a miracle; it's going to be one step at a time that will help you get to the place where you're not feeling overwhelmed anymore.

And here's the reason: it's a feeling. Being overwhelmed is a feeling, and you can replace that feeling with trust in God that He is going to help you get through this season one step at a time.

How do you get through being overwhelmed? It's just having confidence in God that He is the one that is going to help you through this valley. Even though things keep coming, and you say, "Okay, I can't take anymore," and then what happens? More comes, more comes.

And it's like, "Okay, but I trust you, God. I trust you, God. I have confidence because you're right here in this valley with me, and you're going to walk with me, and you're going to guide me one step at a time, and we're going to come out of this valley together."

You see, valleys are not there to defeat us. Valleys are here as a test of our faith.

So the question you need to ask yourself: Am I going to pass this test?

Now, I was one of those nerdy kids. Anybody else was a nerd? Not very many of you? Oh, I feel so alone! I was a nerdy kid, so when I had a test, I made sure I was going to pass that thing. I studied and studied and studied till I passed it.

And so this week, when I've been going through so much and I was studying and preparing this sermon, I thought, "This is a test. What does Chris McQuay do with tests? I pass them! I pass tests!"

That's what Chris McQuay does, and that's what you do if you will just take it one step at a time and allow God to guide you and comfort you and strengthen you and keep you in the midst of the valley.

Just as we close now—we're closing—but did you notice what happened in every single one of those valleys? Think back. What happened? Oh, there were miracles! Seriously, the sun standing still—that's a miracle! A young boy running towards a giant full speed, swinging and hitting a giant right in the one spot that doesn't have armor—that's God! That's a miracle!

Bones standing up and breathing again—that's a miracle! You see, your valleys are not there to defeat you. Your valleys are there to release miracles into your lives. Valleys are miracle territories.

And as I was praying about this message and saying, "God, this is like the worst possible time for me to be preaching," have you ever complained to God?

Okay, yeah, I was complaining, like, "God, this is the worst possible time." But then you know what God said to me? He said, "Yeah, but I'm going to release miracles."

So God's going to release miracles. As for you, talked about miracles today, you talked that it was so... I truly believe that God is going to produce a miracle—not to get you out of the valley, but He's just going to give you a miracle in the valley.

He's going to give you a miracle in the valley. So if you are in a miracle situation right now and you need a miracle, I want you to stand up right now if you need a miracle.

Amen!

As they play... there you go. Are all of you in valleys right now? See, that's why God wanted this message.

"When you feel overwhelmed, bring all your challenges and all your emotional overload and cast them at the feet of Jesus, and then let Him guide you as you take one step at a time." [39:48] (Download)

"Being overwhelmed is a feeling, and you can replace that feeling with trust in God that He is going to help you get through this season one step at a time." [40:31] (Download)

"Valleys are not there to defeat us; valleys are here as a test of our faith. So the question you need to ask yourself is, am I going to pass this test?" [41:16] (Download)

"I'm not standing up here preaching at you... I'm standing in the valley of being overwhelmed with you right now... I'm just telling you what we can do when we are overwhelmed and that is know that God is going to fight for us." [38:12] (Download)

"That God Is With Us in those valleys and when you're feeling overwhelmed remember that God is your strength and he will guide you and he will help you overcome one issue at a time." [38:58] (Download)

"Your valleys are not there to defeat you; your valleys are there to release miracles into your lives. Valleys are miracle territories." [44:02] (Download)

"God is going to produce a miracle not to get you out of the valley, but He's just going to give you a miracle in the valley." [44:47] (Download)

"God confused those armies so much so that Israel was able to have just a just defeat the decisively they chased the Coalition uh down the road." [32:47] (Download)

"God does all of this to use it to help defeat Israel's enemies so let's think about it what is the valley of Aijalon like in our lives well it's when you feel devastated stretched to the max swamped you feel like you just can't handle anymore in one word overwhelmed." [35:10] (Download)