God Is In The Mountains And Valleys

 

 

We all want to know right from wrong, good from bad, positive from negative, safe from dangerous, and friends from foes.

So, when things happen that we can’t explain or wouldn’t have chosen, it’s hard to stray away from the logic we’ve learned since kindergarten musicals and vacation Bible school. In fact, if we were to combine the two, I think we’d have songs that go a little bit like this:

“Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and self control go up-up-up… Sin, suffering, pain, illness, hurt, and godlessness go down-down-down.”

In the Bible, we see that mountains and valleys aren’t just “up” and “down” in terms of geography, but they also seem to take on negative or positive connotations.
 

I lift up my eyes to the mountains — where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of Heaven and earth. — Psalm 121:1-2

After [Jesus] had dismissed them, He went up on a mountainside by Himself to pray. Later that night, He was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it — Matthew 14:23-24

And a man of God came near and said to the king of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord, ‘Because the Syrians have said, ‘The Lord is a god of the hills but He is not a god of the valleys,’ therefore I will give all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the Lord.’ — 1 Kings 20:28

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. — Psalm 23:4


And so, when we walk through our own circumstantial valleys and encounter things that never would have happened in the Garden of Eden, we think our lives are headed, well, down. Casseroles will arrive and bad news may keep coming, and everything about suffering, from funeral dresses to sympathy cards, sharply remind us of darkness and defeat.

There’s a unique tension that happens when we walk through dark valleys with our mountaintop God. Yes, the pain is real, but so is hope. Maybe “up” or “down” and “joy” or “suffering” seemed like the only options to me, but not to God.

Yes, mountains go up and valleys go down, but God is steady and constant. Maybe the writer of the song took a little inspiration from theologian Samuel Rutherford, who said, “Believe God’s love and power more than you believe your own feelings and experiences. Your rock is Christ, and it is not the rock that ebbs and flows but the sea.”


So, whether we’re talking about rocks or mountains or valleys, one thing remains true: He is with us. God is our only true comfort, and His Word is unfailing.

May we look above the ebb and flow of our circumstances and rest our eyes upon the God who does not move. He is steady in the ups and downs, and His heart is to turn things right-side-up.

Thanks be to Him.


When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. — Isaiah 43:2

He provided redemption for His people; He ordained His covenant forever — holy and awesome is His name. — Psalm 111:9

 

~Written for Devotionals Daily by Kaitlin Wernet, co-author of The Book of Comforts with Rebecca Faires, Cymone Wilder, and Caleb Faires.

Stay Encouraged and Be Blessed!