“You take the high road and I’ll take the high road.”
Of course, that is not how it goes. Frankly, only in a song does anyone want to take the low road. That’s like saying, “You take the mountain and I’ll take the valley” says no on ever. Most people want to stay on the mountain top and not find themselves in the valley.
However, consider what Billy Graham is credited with saying: “Mountaintops are for views and inspiration, but fruit is grown in the valleys.” Growth in our character and relationships, both with others and with God, often occur in the valley. It is nice to be on the mountaintop where inspiration and nearness can be fostered, but it is in the valley where we find our “true faith.” Maybe the better way to put it is in the valley we find out how real our faith is.
On the mountaintop it is easy to have the answers. Things are good. Life is good. In many ways, life is also easy. We find a “big” God, One who says He can meet all our needs. It is easy to believe that when we are “in the clouds.” I would go away to camp or some youth conference and sense God’s presence as never before. But when I got back home and got back into the trenches is where I found out whether what I believed and experienced was true or not. I found out if the God I worshiped on the mountaintop was the same God in the valley. Is God sufficient for all my needs? Is God’s strength able to sustain me when things aren’t looking so good or when life gets a tad bit rough?
We won’t find out the answers to those questions by staying on the mountaintop-no matter how much we like it there. “Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can understand the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall into exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:28-31 NLT)
The only way to learn the truth of those words is in the valley. Don’t fear the valley.
Loved this post, Bill. I heard someone say It’s where the rubber meets the road. I shared a link to it on Facebook.
WOW! Thanks for doing that! I am humbled and honored. And yes, it is where the rubber meets the road.
I love that quote attributed to Billy Graham. Our faith needs to sustain us in the good times and the not-so-good. May we spread the fruits of the spirit here in the valley.
Blessings, Bill!
I really liked it as well Martha. Fruit is best tasting when spread and harvested in the valley.
We train our body, soul, mind, and spirit for the valleys. This is where we put our training to the test.
We have a loving and caring Father that wants us to be strong, but also want us to NOT forget to rely on Him. The valley helps to remind us that we can’t do life alone. We first must call on the Father.
“And though I walk through the valley of death, I will fear no evil, for YOU are with me”
As we train in the valley, I need to remember that when i fall, God will lift me up and if necessary will carry me through.
However, entering the valley unprepared can make it feel worse than it is.
Love this post!
Thanks Ryan and your thoughts add much to mine. I totally agree with you next to last statement: “However…is.” Woe be to the one who comes unprepared.
Great post Bill. It is so true, when I have been in the valley it seems my ears and heart are in the surrendering position and can be molded by God. I need to remain in that position no matter what my circumstances are. I am so grateful for every valley lesson that I have gone through, and for the praise that follows.
That is the important things Gail. Staying in the surrendering position. While not so grateful while going through the valley, I am grateful when I get beyond and look back.