When Life Throws You A Curve

Three nations aligned against Judah and her king, Jehoshaphat. They met in a place that should have been Judah's ultimate destruction. The people of God were out-numbered, out-gunned, and were staring annihilation in the face. But as God often does, the valley that should have been their destruction, became the valley of their greatest blessing. 2 Chronicles 20:26 says, "On the fourth day they gathered in the Valley of Blessing, which got its name that day because the people praised and thanked the Lord there. It is still called the Valley of Blessing today."


Judah didn't have to fight the battle (just as God had promised). All they had to do was enjoy the spoils of God's victory. The Bible says that it took three full days to gather up all the plunder left on the battlefield! I just want to say it again! The place of that should have been their ultimate defeat became the valley of their greatest blessing.


This was something the people of Judah would never have gone after themselves. The weren't the ones scheming to attack and conquer. They weren't devising plans to rob the Amonites, Moabites, and Meunites of their goods and supplies. They were minding their own business. But when these enemy armies conspired to do evil against them, God said, in effect, “You're not taking anything from my people today. In fact, you're giving to my people today.” And the army of Judah spent three days gathering everything.  Proverbs 13:22: “The sinners' wealth passes to the godly.”

So let me conclude this week, and this sermon series by giving you three things to remember when you face what appears to be overwhelming odds. First of all, you can outlast your problems. Even if can't conquer a problem in your own power, you can choose to outlast the problem. Many situations are able to resolve themselves, if we just allow them the opportunity to run their course.  That doesn't mean that you do nothing and wait for the problem to fix itself. It does mean that you continue to pray, you continue to trust, you continue to praise, you continue to put yourself in position for God to work a miracle. So remember, when life throws more at you than you can handle, stay faithful, stay consistent, keep walking with God, and you'll find yourself outlasting the enemy.

Secondly, the valley of blessing should be a valley of praise. Judah praised Him when they sought His help.They praised Him when they were stepping out in faith. And they praised Him when He's gave them victory. In everything situation....Praise Him! At every stage of a crisis, the stage of despair, the stage of faithful obedience, and the stage of victory,remember that praise and worship and thanksgiving play a vital role. 

Finally, when battles are public, remember that public battles lead to public victories. Public victories not only bring honor glory to God, they bring a proper amount of honor and respect to you, as well. You'll be able to make a difference in people's lives, because they will have witnessed the power of God at work in your life.  That's why, when we've been to the Valley of Blessing, we need to do what the people of Judah did. We need to march around with harps and horns, making as much noise as possible, proclaiming to all who will listen, "God has given me victory."