In the valley

“When I climb down the mountain, And get back to my life, I won’t settle for ordinary things” -Third Day

These lyrics are great words about a resolve or commitment that Moses or others might make who have met God on the mountain. It is a beautiful thing to see God in all His glory. Moses on the mountain, the shepherds at the stable, the disciples on the mount of transfiguration: all of these were powerful and amazing times.

But there came a time where all of those mountain-top experiences came to an end and the people who were there had to go back to the valley and keep living life.

The musical group Third Day expressed a commitment to live differently in the valley after the mountaintop experience than we did before and that ought to be what we all strive for, but let’s be honest and admit how hard it is to go back to the valley.

When we get back to our lives after Christmas, vacation, revival or some other amazing experience it can be hard to go back to the routines, the mundane, the repetition. It can be hard to go back to responsibility, duty, and obligation. It can be hard to go back to the battles, the unknown and the overwhelming.

The truth is that much of our life is lived in the valley. In between mountain peaks. Much of our life is taken step by step with seemingly labored and yet tedious steps. Each step can seem so small when the next mountain is still so far away.

Dear Pastor, I want to encourage you that the journey to the next mountain is taken one step of faithful perseverance at a time. Each pastor’s journey is one of faith, believing that God is able to take our little steps and small efforts and infuse them with His power and somehow touch other people.

Please keep looking to the Lord who is the guide, comforter, protector, and provider on your journey. Please keep inviting others to join you as you look to the King of kings and Lord of lords. Please be ever aware of the next mountaintop God is pointing you toward. When you come off the mountain and head into the valley, make sure to catch a glimpse of the next mountain and hold on to that God-guaranteed certainty, no matter how far into the distance it may seem.

I know that God is ever and always by our side and we just have to keep walking with Him and sharing the good news of who He is with others. Let us always cling to the certain knowledge that He is bringing about the honor, power, glory, and growth of the Kingdom even as He takes us through the valleys. Remember that He has assured us to take us through the valleys from mountain to mountain with ever-increasing glory!

Christ is with us, Christ is in us!

Mike J