He Restores My Soul, Day 2

Leslie Basham: If you’ve walked through the valley of the shadow of death, you are not alone. Damaris Carbaugh describes a time when depression threatened to overwhelm her.

Damaris Carbaugh: I walked through that valley that day, and I can tell you now that I don’t have to fear evil. I don’t have to fear Satan, because Jesus is with me.

Leslie: This is Revive Our Hearts with Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth, author of A Place of Quiet Rest, for Thursday, April 27, 2017.

Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth: Well, yesterday we heard part one of a message from my friend Damaris Carbaugh on the 23^rd Psalm. Damaris showed us what it means to have a heart attitude that says, “The Lord is my Shepherd, and that’s all I need. In the busyness of life, the one thing I need is to be with Him.”

We’re going to pick that message back up, and Damaris will tell us about one of the shadow of death experiences that she’s been through.

But first, let me remind you that you can hear Damaris Carbaugh at a conference being hosted by Revive Our Hearts called Revive’17: Women Mentoring Women. In addition to Damaris, I’ll be speaking along with Dannah Gresh, Mary Kassian, Blair Linne, and a number of others. We’re going to walk together through the first paragraph of Titus chapter 2 and explore what it says to us as women and how we can pass on this message in discipling relationships.

Revive ’17 is coming to Indianapolis, September 29 and 30, and you can still get the early registration discount for a few more days. That discount deadline is Monday, May 1. You can get all the details at ReviveOurHearts.com, or give us a call at 1–800–569–5959.

Now, let’s get back to Damaris Carbaugh talking about Psalm 23. She’s reading verses 3 and 4.

Damaris: “He restores my soul; He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me” (NASB).

Did David understand what being restored meant? To be restored, what that means? Oh, did he ever understand.

You need to be restored when you’ve sinned. Sin breaks you. Sin injures you. Sin will destroy you.

And when David sinned, he confessed. And don’t forget, ladies, that even though this is a man who failed so horribly, in this case, he writes Psalm 51. I love when Davis says, “Restore to me the joy of my salvation” (v. 12).

Sin will rob you of your joy—the joy of your salvation. It really will. David knows, and he can write, "But God can restore your joy." God can restore your joy. If you’re broken today because of sin, that’s why He’s a Savior. A Savior saves from whatever condition you’re in. If you’re broken because of sin, He is here to restore your soul. Hallelujah! He restores my soul.

David understands that, and he says that. “He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness [for what?] for His name's sake.” That means the Lord wants to put me on a path that’s right, that’s about Him.

Remember, Jesus said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and its righteousness” (Matt. 6:33 paraphrased). So Jesus wants to put me on a right path so that His name is glorified. His name is glorified.

Isn’t it sad when people that are believers fail and the media gets a hold of that? It brings shame to the name of Jesus. It really does. But the Lord doesn’t want us to go down that road. He wants to lead us. By the way, I hope you notice in this psalm it’s: HE makes, HE leads me, HE restores, it’s HIS work. Hallelujah! So He wants to lead me. He wants me to do the right things so that His name is glorified.

Like I said last night, you’ll never know joy until your whole life is one big ambition to glorify His name. I’m telling you, you think that whatever it is that you’ve dreamt of doing, you think that’s it. Let me tell you: There is no greater ambition than to glorify God. That’s it. That’s it.

People in the world that have had worldly ambitions and have lived for the goals that they have set, many of them (we’ve seen it in the newspaper) have actually reached those goals. Then you know what they end up singing? The song that Peggy Lee sang, “Is That All There Is?" Is that all there is? Then bring out the booze. Bring out the booze and let’s get drunk because, you know what? It really gives me what I thought it would give me.

Because the only thing you were created for was God’s glory. Everything He’s made is for His glory. The Holy Spirit really needs to teach us what that is, because we’re human and because we’re egotistical. Some people think God is on an ego trip because He wants it all. But you don’t understand—and may God help us all understand—that God is perfectly good, perfectly righteous, and that it’s for your benefit that He be glorified.

It’s taken me a long time, and let me just tell you something: I am still learning that. I am still learning it. He wants me to live right so that I might glorify His name.

Your life should be such that as people see the way you live . . . It’s wonderful to worship here, and it’s wonderful to say “Amen,” and it’s wonderful to have this time right here, but this conference will end. Where you and I really live is out there, in the mundane, in the humdrum. That’s where Jesus wants to live with you. Most of life is out there in the humdrum.

Now, out there in that humdrum, mundane—picking up the drycleanering, going to Alberton’s, going to some meeting that you have to go to, or even getting your nails done—in that realm, you should live in such a way that people look at you and say, “Is that what God is like? Because, if that’s what He’s like, then I want Him.”

He leads me. He wants me to live the right way for His name's sake. He wants me to live. Whenever the Bible says, “Walk in such a way. Walk in this manner. Walk.” That word, even though the writer is using the word walk, the writer’s not talking about putting this foot in front of this foot in front of this foot. The Bible’s talking about living. Walk in such a manner.

So He makes me walk. He makes me live in a right way so that His name might be glorified. Amen? For His name's sake.

Don’t separate these verses. Sometimes we pluck them, and we do what we want with them. We put them on our little plaques, and we just cut them all up. No, no, no, no, no. In that walk of righteousness for His name's sake, guess what happens? We begin to, sometimes, approach a valley. It’s part of that walk.

That Shepherd led him in the right path, and the right path will sometimes lead you to a valley that looks like the shadow of death.

I have had a very comfortable life. I have to tell you that because I look at those pictures, and I look at those kids in the Dominican Republic, and I think of people I know very well. The Ambassador to the United Nations from Zambia is a precious believer. I know her and her dear friend Vicky, my friend, has been to Africa many times. I really feel the best thing any of us could ever do is leave this country at least once in your life. Just leave it once and see the way these people live.

I’ve had a very comfortable life. When you leave this country and you see how other people live, no matter how poor you think you are, you have so much more. You have no idea how much you have.

But I’ve had a very comfortable life. I have not really suffered like I know some people have suffered. I’m embarrassed. I’ve suffered some things, but I’m embarrassed to talk about what I’ve suffered when I think about people that have lost a child. Even this weekend, someone here has lost their son. I don’t know what that’s like. I don’t know that kind of suffering.

I don’t know the suffering of a man who looks at his wife and says, “I don’t want to be married to you anymore.” I don’t know that kind of suffering. I really don’t.

I’m so thankful that Jesus does. On the cross, He not only died for your sins—never forget this. In Isaiah you find this, “He not only was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities, but surely He bore our sorrows.”

So anything you are suffering, He suffered it on the cross. He knows exactly what you’re going through, and He feels it with you. He suffers it with you. He’s a longsuffering God.

So I don’t know what that feels like, but a few months ago, I had what I believe was a breakdown.

I had my cup of coffee. My husband and I usually pray together in the morning in our kitchen. So I’m drinking my coffee, and I start to talk about it again, this thing that I’ve been struggling with. And Rod goes, “Honey . . .” He said it sweetly, he really did. He said, “Honey, you know what? Let’s pray because I’ve got a lot of things to do.” And he does. I cannot tell you how much is on my husband’s plate. You would not believe it.

But when he said that, I was at a place where that’s all I needed to break. So when he said, “Let’s not do this right now, let’s just pray,” he didn’t even notice it because I went, “Fine. You pray.” I bowed my head, and Rod prayed. I don’t know that he even noticed, but i was like the more he prayed, the angrier I got. Then he went upstairs to the office to work, like he does.

And I, in my kitchen, as I was losing my mind, I got really mad. I went to the bottom of the stairs, and I said, “Rod . . . blah blah blah blah blah.” I can’t remember what I said, but I just went, “Blah blah blah blah blah.” Whatever I did say, it was hysterical, I was hysterical. I started to scream. I’m telling you the truth, as God is my witness.

I started to scream. And Rod comes downstairs, and I dropped to my knees at one of my kitchen chairs, and he just begins to pray for me. And listen to me, ladies, it’s not the valley of death. It’s the valley of the shadow of death. Which means, it seems like you’re going to die.

So I’m there. I want to die. And I said, “I’m going to bed.” I told the Lord, “This is it. This is how I’m going to die. I’m going to bed, and I’m never getting up. I’m never going to bathe again. I’m never going to eat again. I’m never getting dressed again. I’m staying in this bed until I die.”

That’s nuts, but that’s how I felt, and that’s the truth. I got in that bed, and I was just closing my eyes real tight. I just wanted sleep. I wanted sleep to come, but it wouldn’t. I stayed in that bed for hours.

And my husband comes into the bedroom. He says, “Why don’t we go out for a bite?” I wanted to die, but all of a sudden I was getting a little hungry. (laughter) And Rod says, “Let’s just go for a bite.” And I was so out of it that I went, (sobbing) “I don’t know what to do. I don’t know whether I should take a bath and get dressed or just get dressed.” Like that.

And Rod says, “Take a bath.” (laughter)

So I took a bath, got in the car with him, and I ordered soup. I had a few bites of the soup, and I was still . . . and Rod is eating—bless his heart (laughter). He’s so kind.

I really don’t know when it happened, but when we finished and got back in the car, it’s as if the Lord just gave me a glimpse—that’s why I love Him. That’s why I love the Lord, because He will speak to us sometimes, even when we’re not even saying, “Lord, speak to me.” That’s beautiful when you do say, “Lord, speak to me.” But even when you’re, like, going nuts, He’ll speak to you.

So I’m in the car, and all of a sudden, it’s like I know what’s going on. This is Satan! Oh, my goodness! He would like for me to get so discouraged that I totally give up. I give up on life. I give up on my husband, on my kids. I give up on wanting to tell you this and how glorious He is. I give up on everything. I just shut down. That’s what the enemy wants. He comes to steal, to kill, and to destroy.

And it’s like the Lord just said, “This is what’s happening.” Oh! That’s how I felt. And I know that was the Spirit of God helping me because there was nothing in me. I just felt God calming, and I went, “Ooo, get behind me. Ooo, the blood of Jesus is against you. You will not take me down. I belong to Jesus.” (applause)

I also believe that my eyes were opened because people prayed—so keep praying for people. Keep praying.

It’s just as if I had been in a hole, in a dungeon, and somebody just opened up the thing, and I got out, and I’ve stayed out. And when he wants to come back . . . I’ve got news for you. This thing that’s happening, this thing, when I said that I feel like Satan’s taunting me, this thing hasn’t really gone away. I feel like Satan’s just kind of, “Ha! Ha! Like, be all victorious? Talk about how victorious you are, but it’s still around.” I feel him taunting me.

But do you know what, ladies? I walked through that valley that day, and I can tell you now that I don’t have to fear evil. I don’t have to fear Satan, because Jesus is with me. His rod and His staff . . . and, by the way, those are two different things.

The staff is the one you’re all familiar with—the big tall one with the hook. The staff is more comforting. The staff is the one that can get a little lamb if it’s fallen over a small, little precipice, and can pick it up. That’s the staff. That’s what the staff is.

The rod—that’s like a club. That’s like a club, and the shepherd knows how to throw it and take care of the enemy. That’s what David did, and David was good. He was good. Yes, God helped him, but he was also good. He was a warrior. He was a military guy. 

He knows how to protect you. He knows how to comfort you. What a Shepherd we have. What a Shepherd we have.

I want to tell you something about lambs or sheep that you might not know. Their bodies are made in such a way, and this is actually being cast down when you’re down and depressed. A lamb every once in a while might, if he’s laying down, if he leans on his side a little too much, will actually end up with all four legs up.

Listen to me: If the shepherd doesn’t right him up or change his position, he will die. On your back, all four legs up, and another sheep can’t help you. As much as we are to encourage one another, only Jesus can fix you. He will die. I couldn’t believe that.

I felt like that day . . . I didn’t have all four legs—I only have two legs, and I didn’t have them all up. But spiritually speaking, that was my position. I was ready to die. I wanted to go. And Jesus, through my sweet husband, said, “Let’s go get something to eat.” That’s how Jesus talks sometimes.

Remember when the little girl was raised from the dead? She got up. Jesus didn’t go, “Oh ho! Bless God!” He said, “Get her something to eat.” I love Jesus! Don’t you love Him?

Most of the time He would say something like this: “Shhh, don’t tell anybody.” What? Are You serious?! Once in a while, He did.

Remember the demoniac that was cutting himself? He said, “I want to go with You, Jesus.”

And Jesus said, “No. Go back to your home town, and tell everything the Lord has done for you.” I don’t know why, but most of the times, Jesus didn’t.

Another thing that I want to tell you that just hit me about Jesus, this Shepherd that I want to be like. The disciples asked Jesus, “Show us how to pray.” Have you wondered why they asked that? Just think about it. It’s really not a hard question. Jesus didn’t really pray in front of them. Isn’t Jesus the one that teaches us to go into our closet where no one else sees you?

(Singing) “Hal-le-lu-jah! Hal-le-lu-jah! Hal-le-lu.” I grew up with this. I’m not making fun of it. I grew up with it. Don’t get me wrong. I say, “Hallelujah!” I think Hallelujah is beautiful. It’s wonderful to say it. But there are times when I just want to say, “Don’t do it so that others can hear you. Don’t do it to draw attention.”

I love Pastor Cymbala so much. He’s taught me so much. We were traveling with my mother, and we came into his church in 1971. There were so many things that he taught us. He said, “If you are like Jesus, you will never draw attention to yourself.” I’m not like Jesus!

They didn’t really know how to pray because Jesus didn’t pray like the Pharisees who prayed publically. They pray—pray like them. No! I want to pray like Jesus. How do You pray, Jesus? Then Jesus gives them that model prayer that’s so precious that teaches us:

“Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be—what?—Your name.” That’s the first thing: His name.

You know why I sang this morning, “Oh, Hail the Power of Jesus Name” first? Because there’s something about the name. It’s not just any name. It’s the name of Jesus that saves. That is the name that we congregate around. We do everything in His name. "Whatever you do, whether in word or in deed, do all in the name of Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him" (see Col. 3:17).

Our salvation is in His name. Our joy is in His name. Our hope is in His name.

Nancy: Amen. That’s Damaris Carbaugh, focusing us on the precious, powerful name of Jesus. He’s the only one who can truly help us when we go through the kind of deep valley experiences that Damaris described today.

Damaris went through that valley of depression, and now she’s able to encourage us with what she learned through that experience. And that’s what it means for women to disciple and mentor other women, to share life together, and to pass on the insights that God has given you.

Damaris is one of several speakers who will help us learn to share life effectively at the conference Revive’17: Women Mentoring Women. Other speakers will include: Mary Kassian, Dannah Gresh, Blair Linne, Susan Hunt, and I’ll be there as well. It’s coming to Indianapolis, September 29 and 30.

The early registration discount ends this coming Monday, so don’t wait to make your reservation. You can register online at ReviveOurHearts.com, or call us at 1–800–569–5959.

Well, I hope you’ll take this opportunity to learn how to more effectively pass on to other women the truths that God has taught you in different seasons of your life.

Leslie: Thanks, Nancy.

Do you remember in Psalm 23 how David said goodness and mercy will follow us? Damaris Carbaugh says you can experience that.

Damaris: No matter how much you’ve messed up back there, listen to me: Once you truly turn yourself around and give yourself to God, you can say like David, “surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life.”

Leslie: Here more tomorrow on Revive Our Hearts.

Revive Our Hearts with Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth wants to help you follow your Shepherd. 

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