Dark Valleys Produce Amazing Views from the Mountaintops

I have dear friends who are in some dark valleys right now. Unexpected life alterations are happening. One friend was already facing cancer and about to start treatments, when her medical team found a brain tumor that must be removed first. The surgery is next week.

Another friend is going through all the heart-wrenching processes of divorce. And another friend recently lost their job and is desperately looking for another one so they can feed their family and keep their “boat” afloat.

Perhaps, today, as I type this blog, you are relating to what I’m saying because you are in a dark valley, too. I have known dark valleys — wondering if I’d ever see a mountaintop again. It was then, and now today for you, of the reminder in God’s Word by the Psalmist David when he too, was in frightening dark valleys. He said: “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me” (Psalm 23:4).

Maybe you’re not in the valley of the shadow of death, but maybe you’re in some kind of a valley. We all face hard places on our life journeys. During those times it’s easy to doubt or overlook God’s goodness. Please – DON’T! I promise you – no valley is without God. We can always trust that He walks through the valleys with us. And best news of all – He doesn’t allow the valley to last beyond what we can handle. He ALWAYS brings us out.

I’d like to provide some hope to those stuck in a valley today. There is comfort in the valley because: We are not alone; God is with us. The shadows in in our lives are the evidence of the presence of light. We can turn our backs to the shadow and look at the light. Jesus said, “I am the light for the world! Follow me, and you won’t be walking in the dark. You will have the light that gives life” (John 8:12).

God IS light and in Him there is no darkness at all. We must stop focusing on the things that scare us: those fears, those worries, those bills – all that stuff that keeps swirling around in our minds. Focusing on God’s presence takes our focus off our fears.

God has a good purpose for our valleys. God cannot do evil. Even when we’re facing problems, conflict, grief, fear, or failure, God is at work creating some good from our valleys.

Romans 5:3-5 says, “We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”
I’ve known valleys. And I’ve known mountaintops. I’ve come to appreciate the mountaintops because of the valleys. And the rewards for not succumbing to the darkness by keeping God’s bright light shining in and around us, we have rewards that will last forever!

We are always rewarded for staying faithful to God in the valleys. I know heaven will be our greatest rewards for conquering the valleys here. But, let me tell you…..I am living proof of God’s faithfulness. I think often: “What was I thinking? Why did I complain so much? Why did I worry when I was going through those valleys? God was right there with me all the time, and He was good to me all the time.”
Oh, the joys on the mountaintops. We conquered the fears, the lies of the enemy and we came out not even smelling like the gunk in the valleys. Hold on, Child! Joy comes in the morning. Let’s keep our eyes on the Light and allow the Light to guide us to the mountaintop!

He’s the God of the hills and valleys and we are never alone!