The Believer’s Valley Experience
Images of valleys are often used to symbolize struggles in life, while mountain peaks serve as symbols of victory. In the Old Testament, valleys were sometimes locations of battles or of God’s judgment (Joel 3:14). In Psalm 23 David speaks of walking “in the valley of the shadow of death” (v 4). Even today we sometimes refer to times of trouble or discouragement as valleys we are going through.
It is safe to say that all people, no matter who they are, face times of discouragement in this life. Even among the “greats” of God’s messengers, we see evidence of periods of discouragement.
• Noah, a “preacher of righteousness” for over 100 years, undoubtedly was not encouraged by the destruction of the rest of mankind as his “congregation” of eight souls floated away.
• Abraham, even as he climbed a mountain to obey God by sacrificing his son, had to be in an emotional valley (Gen. 22).
• Moses faced opposition from the very people he was leading out of bondage and sometimes felt the burden was too much to bear (Num. 11:11-15).
• Elijah thought at one point he was the only one in Israel concerned with pleasing God (1 Ki. 19:10).
• The apostle Paul, normally very upbeat, reported that at one point he “despaired even of life” (2 Cor. 1:8).
We are told that “all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:12). So it should not be a surprise to find faithful Christians today who experience “valleys” due to circumstances in life.
There may be times when we may not understand why God is letting us walk in a valley. Consider Job, whom God said was “blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil” (Job 1:1). He clearly didn’t understand why God was permitting him to suffer. In our minds we say, “God is with us,” but from our emotions we feel, “God, where are You when we need You?”
Some valleys are deeper than others and may take more effort to climb out of, but with God’s help, we can. Understand, the valley is not the place where God intends for us to take up residence. We must walk through it—not make it our home.
Just because God allows us to be in a valley doesn’t necessarily mean that He is responsible for putting us there—unless He puts us there in order to teach us.
Some find themselves in a valley because they don’t listen to God (example: Jonah). Others can’t get out of a valley because of unrepentant sin. Some may be there because of the sins of others (i.e. family troubles, an unrighteous nation, etc.). And still others may be there due to “natural causes” (i.e. disasters or maybe even a pandemic).
God uses our valley experiences to instruct us. The apostle Paul gave us three “benefits” that are gained from facing trials (2 Cor. 1:3-11):
1) We will be able to comfort others (v.6);
2) We will develop patient endurance; and
3) We will trust in God and not in ourselves.
Jeremiah wrote, “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord” (17:7).
Realizing that it is more than likely that we will have valley experiences, let’s look at what we should do while there.
▶ Praise God for what He has done for you. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 1:3). Our sins have been forgiven! Jesus is pleading our case.
▶ Praise God for what He will do for you. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…” (1 Pet. 1:3). Because of Jesus’ resurrection, we have the realistic expectation (hope) of our own resurrection from the dead.
▶ Praise God for what He now does for you. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort” (2 Cor. 1:3). He is there “in all our tribulation” (v.4). And when thing are going wrong, “we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28).
We have a God who “knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations…” (2 Pet. 2:9). He may not deliver his saints immediately—or even in the same way. The apostle James (one of the “sons of thunder”) was delivered from his trials by death. The apostle Peter, under the same threat, was delivered from prison. Sometimes God delivers us from trials, and at other times He delivers us through trials.
God uses other Christians to help us face trials. When we are able to endure trials we are more equipped to help those who are still in the valley. We are asked to “pass it forward.”
Remember, when you are in the valley, you’re still safe because God has promised, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Heb. 13:5). But let’s not take up residence in the valley. That’s not what God intends for us.
aldiestel@gmail.com
Uncontroversial Baptism
I Can’t Command… So I Plead (Articles From the Days Gone By)
Being Wise About Wisdom
Waking to a ‘Woke’ World
I confess that when I first started hearing people use the word “woke” in ways that were unfamiliar to me, I was confused. I would hear people say things like, “I think you should be more woke,” or “I’m working on being more woke.” I thought I knew the meaning of the word, but it was obvious that people were using it in a different way.
Realizing that words can have more than one meaning I went to my trusty dictionary—Webster’s New World Dictionary of the American Language—that was purchased when I was in high school. Sure enough, the definition was as I thought it would be: “alternate past tense of wake.” Then I wondered if this 66 year-old dictionary is out of date, so I grabbed my Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, Tenth Edition that was published in 1993. However, it agreed with the older one. Having no more dictionaries in my house, I went to the Internet and found several definitions such as “Spiritual and intellectual enlightenment, like waking up from a deep sleep and seeing things clearly for the first time” [urbandictionary.com].
On the surface, that sounds like a good thing and is even in harmony with scriptural admonitions in Paul’s letters: “And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed” (Rom. 13:11); also “Awake to righteousness and do not sin, for some do not have the knowledge of God…” (1 Cor. 15:34). However, like many other good objectives, the need to “wake up” has been co-opted and perverted by advocates of certain social, moral, and religious changes from biblical standards.
It has always been a goal of Satan to convince people to abandon and reject God’s call to righteousness. He has been consistent in his attempts to convince mankind to do away with any adherence to righteous living, and the “woke” approach is just one of his latest ploys. Unfortunately, it seems to be working for him with a great percentage of the world and even with some professing Christians.
Satan is patient, and the gradual erosion of morality has been evident. The so-called sexual revolution in the 1960’s and women’s liberation movement that began about the same time had success in making divorce, fornication, and adultery common and acceptable. These have paved the way for the more recent endorsement and promotion of homosexuality and other perversions. And don’t think for a moment that Satan will be satisfied before and until the world accepts consensual pedophilia as “normal” for those so inclined.
The fear of not being viewed as “woke” has caused many advertisers of products and producers of entertainment to actually promote sexual perversion. Even so-called “conservative” media has bowed to woke pressure by featuring guests and network contributors that openly admit to being homosexual or transgender. The more sexual perversions are portrayed or treated as being “normal,” the more likely society will endorse those practices as personal choices and will accuse anyone who believes them to be sinful as being a bigot. As the Lord’s people, we must be prepared to be maligned and ridiculed due to our stand for truth and righteousness that has been revealed in the Word of God—our ultimate standard.
aldiestel@gmail.com
Awake, you who sleep,
Arise from the dead,
And Christ will give you light.
EPHESIANS 5:14
