Devotions for Disciples

I am pondering valleys and mountains in my spiritual life, fully aware that I must travel through the valleys to reach the mountains. I often fear that I pursue the mountain without considering the significance of the valley experiences presented in Scripture. All of us desire to stand on top of the mountain, and we detest the idea of going through valley, but valleys can be filled with wonder and peace. The problem is that we are too often entirely focused on reaching the mountaintop, so, we miss out on what they have to offer. I think I often view the mountain as my destination and forget that the Christian life is about the journey, never truly considering that the valley might be where I need to be for a season. The good news is that I serve the God of both the valley and the mountain. 

Most of us fear the thought of walking through the valley because of all the negative connotations in the Bible. The concept of a valley causes us to think of darkness and hard times because in Scripture, they are places where people have struggled, usually because they had rebelled against God. Usually, but not always. Remember that. Do you recall the Valley of Achor in Joshua 7? It was the location of a battle that should have been easily won, but it became a terrible defeat for the children of Israel in their process of taking the Promised Land. The defeat for the nation was significant, and it was all because of one man. Achan sinned by trying to hide some of the spoils from the victory over Jericho when they were told to destroy everything. As a result, this valley became known as the Valley of Trouble because Israel was troubled by God at the hands of the people of Ai. 

Most likely, when you think of the valleys in the Bible, you will think of Psalm 23 where a specific kind of valley is mentioned. This is a valley that none of us desire to walk–the Valley of the Shadow of Death. It is a place of struggles and heartache, a journey through the darkest times of our lives. Sadly, we forget that it is also a valley where we can experience the strongest works of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Sheep find more protection, more food, and more water in the valley. They find rest in the valley. In this Psalm, the sojourner is given refreshment and encouragement as he places one foot in front of the other, traveling through the valley. The problem is that we fail to see God at work in our grief over the loss of a loved one, our financial struggles, or our relationship problems, so, we allow ourselves to stay longer in the dark and desolate places never experiencing His rest. All because we keep our eyes on the hard times instead of on the Good Shepherd. That is why we must diligently guard our hearts in this journey God has placed us on realizing that valleys can be the place we need to be for the moment.           

We also see valleys of success in the Scripture, like the Valley of Elah in 1 Samuel 17. It is a place we might not recall by name, but we will remember the event. This is the valley where David killed Goliath. When we enter the valley like David, proclaiming at the top of his voice, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day, the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel and that all this assembly may know that the not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hand,” the victory is already won. Here is a great truth: how we act in our valley determines whether we experience victory or defeat. When we approach the hard times of life with confidence that God has already arrived and is waiting to walk through them with us, we find no fear in our journey.    

Maybe you have heard of the Kidron Valley in 2 Kings 23. It was a place of burial. Dead bodies and ashes were brought there. Many believe this is where God will one day assemble the nations in the last days. Jesus, after leaving the Last Supper, walked to the Garden through this valley. Do you see the picture? Valleys can be holy places where holy moments await us if we keep our eyes focused on our purpose and calling and allow the Holy Spirit to be our guide. 

It is true that we long to be on the mountaintop because so many wonderful things have happened there in the Scripture: the story of Abraham and Issac and the sacrifice that was provided by God; the time when Moses met with God for forty days; the Mount of Transfiguration. And we can never forget that it was on a mountain that a cross was erected, hammers sounded as nails were driven into flesh, a spear pierced skin, blood flowed freely, and the Savior gave His innocent life for a world so unworthy. That blood of forgiveness and sacrifice continues to flow, and it reaches all the way down from the top of THAT mountain to our lowest valleys and up to our highest mountains. These are breathtaking moments to ponder, and my heart stutters when I allow my mind to take in those thoughts, but the ultimate mountaintop experience is yet to come. One day, Christ will set His feet on top of a mountain, the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, and all glory, more glorious than anything that we have known, will occur. The mountain will split in two, Jesus will judge His enemies, and righteousness will reign on this earth for a thousand years. Looking forward to that destination makes the journey, even through the valleys, worth it all.