Are you in a valley right now? It could be a valley in your marriage or in your relationship with your child. It could be in one or more of your other relationships. Perhaps it’s your job or business or finances. Whatever the specifics, do you feel that your life is in a valley right now?
If you’re in a valley, then a couple questions you should prayerfully consider are:
Is God taking me through this valley for a season (and a reason)?
AND/OR…
Is there something I can do to get THROUGH and OUT of this valley?
In fact, another part to Question #2 is… Did I put myself in this valley?
Let’s be honest. Some valleys are of our own making or we at least we get into them because of our own mistakes or poor choices.
Nevertheless, it’s also true that we find ourselves in some valleys through no fault of our own.
My sister has special needs. She was born with those needs. She’s had severe autism and mental disability her entire life. It’s not “fair,” and it’s far from what I want for her. But it’s her reality.
It’s also important to recognize that valleys come in different shapes, sizes, and lengths.
My mother had multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, chronic back pain, frequent migraine headaches, and depression. She had a lot of health challenges. And each of those situations — in and of themselves — constitutes a valley. And they can (and did) at times plunge her into an overall valley!
Regardless of the specific nature of your valley (or valleys)…
One thing is certain: YOU NEED GOD.
And that means you need to TRUST God.
Given my mom’s health as well as my sister’s (her daughter’s) situation and some financial challenges she and my dad (her husband) went through — and the fact that she lost her 49-year-old husband (my father and her husband of 26 years) to a sudden heart attack — she had every reason to complain and be bitter. And she did sometimes have some dark moments. But…
She refused to live in a valley!
Instead, Mom did what she could to maintain a positive spirit in her life. And she did what she could to help and serve others.
When I look back on my mother (who is now with the Lord), her suffering or her dark moments are not the first things that come to mind. Her misery didn’t define her.
The first things I think of are her smile and her love– not only her love for me, but also for her husband, my sister, my wife, all of her family and friends, and honestly for everyone who God put in the path of her life. My mom loved God, loved others, and lived the life of the Good Samaritan. That is her legacy!
It’s true that sometimes bad stuff happens to us and it’s through no fault of our own. And it’s also true that sometimes bad things happen to us, and while we may be at least at partial fault for that, we’re trying to get help and get out, but…
We don’t see a way forward.
To that, I say…
You should — and you can.
Here is your way forward:
“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
Jesus in Matthew 6:25-34, NKJV
And here’s Paul on the subject…
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
Paul in Philippians 4:6-8
And then there’s King Solomon in Proverbs…
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
Solomon in Proverbs 3:5-6
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
And finally (though I could keep going), here’s David…
The Lord is my shepherd;
David in Psalm 23
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads 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 You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.
Those passages (and there are many, many more) show you the way forward. It comes down to seeking God’s face first and foremost, making Him number one in your life, giving Him your burdens and your needs, trusting Him with your whole heart, and following Him.
God bless you.
