"The man of God came up and told the king of Israel, "This is what the Lord says: 'Because the Arameans think the Lord is a god of the hills and not a god of the valleys, I will deliver this vast army into your hands, and you will know that I am the Lord'." 1 Kings 20:28
We tend to live for those so-called "mountaintop" experiences. For some of us, something as simple as quittin' time on Friday is perceived as the mountaintop of the work week. A long-awaited trip, a wedding day, winning a championship, or a first date can all be seen a a pinnacle moment in our lives. Despite the fact our troubles are likely to still be there waiting for us when we get back, that fact doesn't keep us from looking forward to the occasional mountaintops, no matter how short-lived the moment may be.
It's easy to be faithful on the mountaintop. Everything is crystal clear up there, after all. Nothing is obscured. There's no reason for doubt. On the other hand, anyone who has ever lived in a mountainous region, as I have, can attest to the fact the VALLEY is where the tasty fruit grows!
All flesh seeks after its own comfort. We tend to flee that which might cause us harm. The fact of the matter is, God is more concerned with the development of Christ-like character in our lives than He is in our cushy comfort. Those tough times should actually be embraced. We should, literally, give thanks for them. Why? Because they are, like sandpaper, rubbing away anything about us that looks nothing like Jesus. These valley experiences will prove to make us more sensitive and compassionate toward others who might find themselves enduring a valley experience. That's when we can introduce them to Christ in us, the Hope of Glory - the One who was there to help us when we were in the valley.
"Yea, tho I walk through the Valley of The Shadow of Death, I will fear no evil."
No one in their right mind will relish those valley moments. On the other hand, Wisdom and Grace will allow us to see the purpose for valley experiences and endure them while they make their impact upon us. Wouldn't it be great to live on the mountaintop all the time in order to always know what's coming? Unfortunately, we won't actually derive the character qualities God desires for our lives while we are on the mountain. Yes, God is the God of the mountain, but we rely upon Him more when we are in the valley. Down there, we can't see what's ahead so we are forced to walk by faith and NOT by sight.
There are valleys we must ALL enter into in order to experience the God of the valley. Once we've spent time down there, we come out with something we would have never gained if we had never entered. Just like Heirloom seeds, the kind that come from fruit, vegetables and flowers that haven't been genetically-tampered with and can, therefore, be replicated when we plant them, the way Father intended, the valley brings much fruit into our lives so we can plant seeds into the lives of others.
God does not waste valley experiences. Even Jesus had them. If we are faithful in the valley, we will enter a new dimension with God we never thought was possible.
Has the Holy Spirit ever lead you into a valley experience? Maybe you're there right now. We must bear in mind, He did so, just as He did with Jesus, so that we would "be tested by the devil." Read that again. Consider, if not for these experiences, how else would we ever TRULY rely upon God? How else would we ever turn to Him in prayer and cry out to Him in SINCERE desperation, only to see our faith GROW as we witness His providence in our lives? How else would we ever witness His miraculous power and see our faith INCREASE as a result?
Remember, the valley is a place of fruitfulness. A place of testing. The central theme of the New Testament is simply this: "Jesus is the Lord." Have you made Him the Lord of YOUR valleys, present as well as past?
Every blessing,
Michael Tummillo
Founder, The Church @ Work
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