Living in Our Valley
#1 Seek the Lord
#2 Get to Church
#3 Remind the Lord
#4 Seek the Safe Place
#5 Not every battle needs to be fought
#6 Family Matters
So far in this series of blogs, we have covered the six items above for walking through the valleys in life. Walking in a valley is never easy, but it is always rewarding. Out of the valley, so much is learned; experience and wisdom are gained. It is how we live through the valley that determines the level of reward on the other side. When we opened this series of blogs, we talked about how we all desire to live on the mountaintop. While the mountaintop may seem majestic from a distance, it is often lonely in reality. There are struggles associated with living on a perceived mountaintop. Mountaintops are not always the most rewarding places to be, but that view is certainly not the one from the valley. These steps teach us how to experience full success on the mountaintop. They not only show us how to live abundantly in the valley but also, when we arrive at the mountaintop, they give us a deeper respect for the journey, making us appreciate the mountaintop even more. Today, we arrive at the seventh step in living through our valley:
#7 Fear Not
Living in fear or worry is one of the greatest sin problems of today. The Word teaches us that we are not to worry about tomorrow or live in a state of fear. It teaches us that we are more than conquerors, at least for those who believe in Him. In our story of Jehoshaphat, we realize that he and the people became afraid and worried about what the enemy around them would do. But the Lord spoke peace into their lives:
“And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.” 2 Chronicles 20:15
As the people began to see the walls crash around them and the enemy get closer, they became even more concerned about what the outcome might be. We cannot judge the people, though. We would have responded the same way. We have the tendency to spend the majority of our lives living in a state of fear and worry. What is going to happen next? What will this person or that person do? What is God going to allow to happen in my life next? Why do bad things happen to good people? These are all questions that run through our minds, distracting us and causing us to focus on the challenges around us rather than the rewards before us. The Word is clear on how we should respond in times like these:
“Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” Matthew 6:34
“I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.” Psalms 130:5-6
“A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!” Proverbs 15:23
Rather than living in a state of fear, we are to wait on the Lord’s timing in our lives. While we can see today and yesterday, God sees tomorrow. He already knows how each trial in our life will work out. He tells us to face today, learning from yesterday but not dwelling on it, and trusting Him with tomorrow. We may miss today what God has for us if we are worried about tomorrow. Could it be that we spend more time than needed in our valley because we are not looking at what is around us and are becoming too fixated on the mountaintop?
#8 Give Thanks
It is thanksgiving in the valley that offers us joy on the mountaintop. When we realize in the valley how blessed we are, how protected we are, and how we are covered by God’s protection, we gain the most. If you remember at the beginning of these blogs, I described the valley for you.
This is what the valley really looks like.
While Jehoshaphat and his people were walking through the valley, the Lord reminded them to give thanks:
“And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the Lord, worshipping the Lord. And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel with a loud voice on high.” 2 Chronicles 20:18-19
There is more waiting for you in the valley than you could ever imagine. When you begin to count your blessings in the valley, giving thanks for what you do have, it is then that God hears you and delivers you. Giving thanks in the valley is the most difficult thing to do, but it is also the most rewarding. The valley is not meant to kill you; it is meant to mature you. A mature Christ-follower recognizes the blessings in the valley as much as the lessons in the valley.
How will you journey through the valley?
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.
Website www.wogacademy.org
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