Living in Our Valley of Berachah
2020 is in our rearview mirror, and 2021 lies ahead. For many, 2020 was a valley we never wish to live through again. But we made it. 2020 is over. I never thought the year of vision, 2020, could be so blurry. That year saw a pandemic not witnessed in decades. Nearly 300,000 people lost their lives. Record hurricanes hit our nation. Wildfires raged uncontrollably. Violence filled our streets. A battle was fought over social injustice. Sadly, families and communities were divided. Jobs were lost, the economy crashed, and we experienced a historic election. And that's not even considering the personal challenges each of us faced. It was a year we never want to see again. We were attacked from every side. For many, it was a valley of despair, with no way to secure an escape. It challenged us in ways we never imagined. But here we are: we've made it to 2021. While we have no idea what this year will bring, we know exactly who holds it. Through all of this, could 2020 have been our time in the Valley of Berachah?
A Valley of Berachah? What does this mean?
If you Google pictures of valleys and mountain peaks, you'll see breathtaking views, but you must consider the differences between them.
Mountain peaks in pictures are majestic and awe-inspiring, but you must remember that these photos are taken from a distance. When you reach the literal mountaintop, it is all rocks, no trees, and no water. It doesn't look like the picture.
Valleys, on the other hand, are often depicted as lush and green, with water flowing through. These pictures are taken up close and capture all the beauty. When you walk through a valley, you can experience that beauty firsthand.
We often complain when we're walking through the valley of life, longing to be on the mountaintop. In reality, it's the valleys that offer us the greatest beauty in life.
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.” Psalms 23:1-6
Charles Stanley says it this way about walking through a valley, “As you walk through the valley of the unknown, you will find the footprints of Jesus both in front of you and beside you.”
A wonderful example of living through a period of valley experience can be found in 2 Chronicles 20. Jehoshaphat was facing a battle for the ages. He became king at the age of 35 and reigned for 25 years. The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the ways of his father, King David (2 Chronicles 17:3). He stood against the idols of Baal and sought to fear the Lord in everything he did. The people trusted Jehoshaphat and followed his godly leadership.
“Now the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the former ways of his father David; he did not seek the Baals, but sought the God of his father, and walked in His commandments and not according to the acts of Israel. Therefore the Lord established the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah gave presents to Jehoshaphat, and he had riches and honor in abundance. And his heart took delight in the ways of the Lord; moreover he removed the high places and wooden images from Judah.” II Chronicles 17:3-6
In all practical terms, King Jehoshaphat was living a great life. His spiritual journey was secure, his family was well taken care of, and in his profession, he was at the top. There was nothing he did that wasn’t blessed. But then it happened.
“And Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem. And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the Lord. Nevertheless there are good things found in thee, in that thou hast taken away the groves out of the land, and hast prepared thine heart to seek God. And Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem: and he went out again through the people from Beersheba to mount Ephraim, and brought them back unto the Lord God of their fathers.” II Chronicles 20:1-4
The attack came. Jehoshaphat and his people were on top of the mountain, enjoying success. That’s when the attack often comes in our lives—when everything seems to be going well, and we feel untouchable. Then, suddenly, we’re attacked from every side. Why is this? Why are trials allowed to come into the lives of those walking most closely with the Lord? Why do difficulties arise when we're trying to do everything right? Why does God allow us to be attacked when all we want to do is follow Him?
Life's valleys come to purify us. Valleys teach us to keep our complete reliance on Jesus. Valleys challenge us to go deeper into His Word, even when we think we've reached the end of what we can understand.
“We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us, but life in you. We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” II Corinthians 8:8-18
My prayer for you is that you begin to see the valley of life as a blessing, not a curse. Over the course of the next several blogs, we will dive deep into how to get through life's valleys and view them as a blessing. I pray you will stick with us on this journey. In the upcoming weeks, we will explore 10 ways to walk through a valley in life and come out stronger on the other side. See you next week.
Mr. Euler has over 20 years of experience working in Christian Schools, 13 as a Head of School and is currently the Head of School at Word of God Academy, Shreveport, LA., a ministry of Word of God Ministries.
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