SERMON NOTES

Fearless 

Fear of Too Much

Text: Psalm 23:4 (p. 458)

We all know we can't  enough for the possibility of whatever unexpected valley we might have to go through. 

And deep within we fear we're going to face something that is , something that's going to  us and our lives. 

 is a battle even though we may not be in a physical war. And to be honest, most of those battles are in a valley. 

•  is the valley of conflict. (1 Sam. 17:2-4) 
•  is the valley of failure. (Gen. 14:10-12) 
•  is the valley of grief and loss. (Ps. 84:5-7)
• is the valley of fear over faith. (Num. 13:23-31)

To really be our substitute, Jesus had to be betrayed because betrayal is part of the fabric of . 

We've all be betrayed and abandoned. And the natural response to the wounds of that abandonment is to develop a philosophy that says "if it is to be its ." 

The result is the  of great fear because the world is full of dark valleys that are beyond my abilities, planning, and preparation. 

Life isn't just mountain tops. Life, even a life of great faith, also has valleys. And valleys are where the enemy really . 

Our God is  not just of the mountains but of the valleys. (1 Ki. 20:23-28) 

You don't have to  for the valleys. 

The promise of God is that He will never  us and leave us on our own.

When we are in the valley, God will give us the  we need for that valley if we are just staying close to Him. (Mt. 10:17-19)

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all - will he not also graciously give us  ? (Romans 8:32)

  we need for every valley.

NOTE: Many of the ideas about the valley came from a great message by Rick Warren – The God of my Valleys.