Devotional: The Glory of the Valley

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

I heard someone say recently that life is both beautiful and brutal. And man, do I agree with that. Life is absolutely amazing and at the same time it can be incredibly hard. We will all face valleys, battles, and just down right difficult things in this life. There’s no getting around it–that’s just part of being human and living in a fallen world. But one thing I’ve learned in my own valleys is that the LORD will see me through. When I cling to the Lord, He is always there to carry me through the hard stuff. And He does the same thing for each one of us. Then the beautiful part: when we get through it, when the breakthrough finally comes and the struggle begins to fade, we start to see the glory of it all.

The glory of the valley is knowing that when you get through it, nothing will stop you. As you cling to Him each day, your heart will finally learn that the LORD is your rock and the source of your strength. He never leaves you and it’s HIM that supplies all you need. Slowly, you start to realize this Rock is your guarantee that you’ll make it. You’ll get through it. You’ll be ok again. And your heart lights up knowing that He loves you and delights in you.

The glory of the valley is that you finally see it’s about Him and not you. You start to take your focus off the valley and finally understand that He is greater than your mountain. He is able and more than capable of fighting your battle. You surrender to Him. And just like David declared victory before his battle with Goliath, you call on the mighty name of the LORD Almighty to carry you.

The glory of the valley is that when you make it through, you’re not afraid of the dark anymore. You finally realize that God can get you through anything life throws at you. You don’t fear things the way you used to—you no longer let the lies of the enemy sink into your soul. You’re not clothed in rags anymore–you’re a warrior: clothed in the armor of God. Nothing can stop you. You’re different. Empowered. Courageous. Your heart is confident in the LORD.

And finally, the glory of the valley is that you continue to praise His name in the struggles and not just the blessings. You learn that seeking His guidance is your superpower. He becomes all you need and your greatest source of hope and joy. And all the strength, encouragement, and wisdom the LORD poured out on you in the valley can now be a gift to pour out on someone else.

Dear God, thank you for the battles we face in life because they bring us closer to you. They remind us that we can do nothing apart from you and we cling to your Goodness and Light. Thank you for who you are and for how you love us! Amen.