The God on the Mountain is the same God in the Valley.
Everyone wants to be up on the mountain. Rarely will anyone volunteer to go into the valleys. Life on the Mountain is great. Lots of laughter, joy , merry making , happiness, health , wealth, victory and peace. Praising God is simple because there is so much to be thankful for. It’s while on the mountain that we enjoy the benefits of God’s hand and His blessings are all around us. Tesifying of God’s goodness, love and faithfulness is simple. We all love the God of the mountain. In contrast, life in the valleys is definitely very different characterised by troubles, tribulations and frustrations. Fear, anxiety, worry, fretting and pain are the companions in the valley. The valley experience is where we can see God’s face and heart if we diligently seek Him for Him and not for His hand.
Expect you Faith to be thoroughly tested in the Valley.
Trials, troubles and tribulations are painful and very uncomfortable. They come to test our faith in God and to bring us into Christ- like character. It is a time God uses to refine and bring us closer to Himself beyond His hand which we are usually accustomed to. God’s hand is easily seen on the mountain. In the valley, He reveals His face. It is in the valley that God seats us a refiner and a purifier of silver purifying His children purging them as gold and silver that they may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness. (Malachi 3:3 NKJV)
Because God is a good Father, He is interested in His children being whole and ready to meet Him when He comes back. When this truth sinks in our hearts and minds, we can joyfully rest in the midst of the fire. His refining fire will never consume or destroy us, instead it will perfect us. He who seats in the refiners seat knows exactly how much heat each of us can handle while in the valley.
Rejoicing in the Valley
Consider it nothing but joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials. Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace]. And let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfect and completely developed [in your faith], lacking in nothing. (James 1: 2-4 AMP)
Yes , it is possible to rejoice in the valley. When you consider how God is using the valley season to perfect your faith and form His character in you then rejoicing is very feasible. It is not easy to come into the place of rejoicing in the midst of pain and suffering except for a renewed mind in God’s word and presence.
His Rod and Staff Protect and Comfort you
Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. (Psalm 23:4)
The valleys have a number of streets such as sickness which has many lanes; cancer, diabetes, hypertension, HIV AIDs… Other streets in the valley include joblessness, debts, loneliness, financial lack and so many others. The valley is so dark and lonely; God seems absent and very silent. But God is with you, His staff and rod are there with you comforting and protecting you. In the valley that you can truly encounter and appreciate the comfort of the Holy Spirit.
It is in the valley that we can truly learn to trust and rely on God completely because it is only Him who can carry us back to the mountain. In the valley we recognise His Lordship. If you could take yourself back to the mountain, then you would leave the valley immediately, but only God can deliver you out of the valley. This reality is an opportunity for your faith and trust in God to mature.
I now appreciate every valley season because God used them to draw me close to Himself. They usher me into His very presence where I always long to be. The valley has taught me to seek His face and not His hand. My valley experiences have taught me how to worship God beyond what He can do or what He will do but for who He is. The valley taught me how to fight for my faith and to win against long standing giants called fear , fretting and uncertainity. Fighting and winning these giants did something for my faith and trust in God that is priceless. We serve a Faithful God !
He remains God when we are on the mountain or in the Valleys.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I thank you for being true whether on the Mountain or in the valley. I thank you for all the valley experiences that are an opportunity to draw closer to you and to know you for who you really are. Thank you for the grace to trust you in the dark alleys of the valley. I praise you for the ‘hard times’ where you reveal yourself to me. Thank you Father.
The God on the Mountain is still the God in the valleys.
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