from this valley...

As part of my daily time spent with the Lord and in the Word, I love reading My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers. They are short yet full of wisdom and challenge, I encourage you to grab yourself a copy! Any who, today Chambers spoke on faith in a very beautiful, intense way, stating that following Christ in the mountaintop is easier than when in the valley (which is completely true). He phrased it as such:

“When you are on the mountaintop, it’s easy to say, ‘Oh yes, I believe God can do it,’ but you have to come down from the mountain to the demon-possessed valley and face the realities that scoff at your Mount-of-Transfiguration belief…

Faith must be tested, because it can only become your intimate possession through conflict."

What a beautiful, painful truth! Living in the demon-possessed valley is uncomfortable, hard, painful, disappointing and wearisome. But, it is here, in this dry place, where our faith grows deep and wide, becoming rich and robust, a rare commodity in the valley. It is much more difficult to obey in the valley; we desire to run out into the open fields, unaware of the snakes and other such disastrous things that may be lurking in the seemingly vast, beautiful expanse, rather than hiking the narrow path of righteousness that He desires for us. We must trust Him, having faith that He has the greatest adventure ahead of us, through the mountains and the valleys. He meets us in both places and grants us the strength and grace to pursue Him, past the trials and joys of life.

What strengthens you in the valleys? What strengthens you in the mountains? How is our faith becoming intimate and rich?

Let us dwell on truth today, friends, not the lies that encapsulate the demon-possessed valley.