Through the Valley
November 15, 2019 by Janet Morris Grimes
Filed under Daily Devotions, Worship
By Janet Morris Grimes –
It is difficult to see clearly from the valley. The path ahead is frightening; the path behind, too painful to look back. There seems to be no escape; the only way to get through it is to get through it. But with the end nowhere in sight, even that seems futile, at times.
It is in the valleys that we realize there are no shortcuts. You can’t bypass it. You can’t go around it. Perhaps that is why we find them so scary.
But God says not to worry. As a matter of fact, He knew there would be valleys. High points, countered by low points, blended together to form the timelines of our lives. He never promised it would be easy.
But what He did promise is even more gratifying. He promised to be there. Always. From start to finish. From our mountaintop experiences to the moments that literally drop us to our knees.
God appreciates the valleys, not because He enjoys seeing us in pain, but more so because He knows that is when we will be calling His name. In the valleys, He gets the chance to speak to us, one-on-one. And He knows we will listen.
It’s not that He chooses only to reveal Himself to us in the valleys; that is just when we seem to take notice. Finally.
So, whatever valley you may be traveling through, know that you are never alone. Treasure this time, claim it for growth, and keep moving toward the end. One foot in front of the other.
And if possible, be thankful for your valleys.
Because wherever God meets us is holy ground, even through the pain.
And maybe even because of it.
PRAYER: Dear God, Thank You for our valleys, for revealing Yourself to us during our darkest hours. Thank You for loving us enough to go before us, to prepare the pathway through it. Thank You for reminding us that we are not strong enough to handle the valleys alone, but that You are with us always. Your strength is more than enough. It is there, in Your capable hands, that we release our burdens unto You.
BIBLE VERSE: “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me” (Psalm 23:4 NIV).
Janet is the author of The Parent's Guide to Uncluttering Your Home, released in April of 2011 through Atlantic Publishing. She launched Abbandoned Ministries in 2010, which leads others through her writing and speaking to seek God, as Abba, during times of abandonment. She currently writes monthly for Christian Woman Today, the grief website Open to Hope, and Mamapedia. For additional information on Janet, visit her website at http://janetmorrisgrimes.com or http://abbandoned.com.