In life there are peaks and there are valleys. When you’re on a peak it’s easy to look down into the valleys that you’ve come through and see where you’ve made mistakes and the lessons you’ve learned. The view is clear and pristine from up high upon the peak.
However, when you’re in a valley the view is extremely limited. Sometimes it may seem as though the climb is far too steep and far too high to ever make it out. Sometimes you can feel overcome, tired and weary. Sometimes we may feel like just giving up, but if we do, we forfeit the growth opportunities from the lessons that are yet to be learned. Some situations in life are extremely difficult. There are times I ask the Lord to help me learn the lesson as quickly as possible, to teach me what He wants me to learn and help me find my way out of the valley as quickly as possible. It’s no fun being there! Yet, we don’t know what He may have in store for us in that valley. If we travel through it too quickly, we may miss something along the way!
From up high on one of the peaks in our lives we may feel closer to the Lord because things are going well and we can look down and see what the Lord has revealed to us and from where He has brought us. When we’re down in the valley we may feel lost, far away from Him and abandoned by Him. We must remember His promise in Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." It is through these times that we must lean on Him the most. He is always there with us especially in the valleys. We never know who He may place along one of our pathways to offer a hand up, or even to use us as blessing to them in some way. The Lord has a purpose in everything He does because whatever situation we’re going through, He knew we would go through it before He ever brought us into this world. We can NEVER give up! We have to keep doing the best we can and keep trying.
I am in a valley right now and keep reminding myself of the Lord’s promise to me in Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." When we’re in a valley it is then that we must exercise hope, trust, faith and belief the most. It’s easy to let fear set in and occupy our minds but what positive can come from fear? There is nothing positive in fear. Fear demonstrates a lack of hope, trust, faith and belief. Fear is a sin that obstructs our view and prevents us from making our way out of the valley. We must be thankful for the valleys as well as the peaks. We must be thankful for the growth which can occur from traveling through them. We must learn to be content and at peace in whatever state we are in during any situation in life. That is true hope, trust, faith and belief.
