August 19, 2020 – Click here to listen
I have been joking with some friends lately about dreading have the “hammer” fall at any moment. Why? Well most folks understand that life is comprised of valleys and peaks. One preacher I know states that we are either coming out of a valley towards a peak or we are getting ready to descend from a peak down into a valley. So if you are on a peak should you be anticipating a valley and be looking over your shoulder? Is a valley coming today?
I have meditated and prayed about this often in life. I even mentioned it to my father one day when I was sitting atop a peak. He reminded me of all of the dark valleys that I have already lived through in my life, suggesting that perhaps I had already passed through enough valleys already for any one person and an extended stay on a peak is in order.
I have come to the conclusion that God does not want us to dread the valleys in our lives. When standing on a peak we should enjoy the view, bask in the sunshine and thank God almighty for the blessings that He has heaped upon us. I am reminded that Jesus instructed us not to worry about tomorrow as tomorrow would take care of itself.
The dark periods in our lives are periods of learning that help shape our character, giving us patience and perseverance. Indeed when I experience problems today, I merely need to look back in my repository of life’s experiences and somehow the problem that I am facing seems to fade away into insignificance as I compare my current dilemma to some of the more serious ones that came and went.
Experience in the valleys will make the verses in the Bible that instruct us that we should actually be “happy” when facing trials and tribulation make more sense. We will realize that they are indeed for our own good and provide the bonus blessing of having our Father draw even closer to us during these dark times.
It tends to make me realize that He is actually shaping my character to prepare me for the rigors of this world. In fact some of the darkest moments of my life, while tough to live through at the time, did just that.
If you are going through a valley right now, draw close to the Lord and He will draw close to you. Weather the storm together with Him and soon enough, just like riding out a hurricane, you will be sitting on top of the world again with blue skies and puffy white clouds. Remember the Bible instructs us to lean not on our own understanding, but to trust in the Lord in “everything”. Look for the lesson He is trying to teach you while in the valley and even when on the peak.
Enjoy life while you can. It is too brief to waste time worrying about the hammer dropping. Worry comes straight out of Hell and Satan is wielding it. Resist him and he will run like a scared rabbit . . .
James 4:7
Therefore submit to God. “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” draw near to God and He will draw near to you . . .