Walking Through the Valley

In our lives there are many seasons that can be stressful and difficult to navigate. As Christians, we can rest assured that God is always with us because the scriptures tell us that we are never alone. No matter what season we are experiencing in life as Christians, God is always right there with us. He will never leave us or forsake us.

What do we do when we are struggling through the toughest times? What if we are completely overwhelmed by life’s circumstances and we cannot see a way out? These times will come and it is often very difficult to know what to do and how to respond. As Christians, we know that the word of God tells us that these times will come. Jesus said in John 16: 33 “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.” He spoke to this very thing and reminded us that He has overcome the world though His death on the cross. He has given his own sinless life so that we as sinners could trust in His faithfulness to save us from our sins that condemned us until He died for us. Because of Jesus death which overcame this world we can trust Him as we walk through the difficulties of life and through everything we encounter in this sin filled world.

Walking Through the Darkest Valley

I have spent years of my life walking through these dark valleys as I know many of you have. They always look slightly different and sometimes for a while we walk through these valleys and find relief on the other side of that valley. No matter how difficult these valleys are we can rest assured that God is always with us in the valleys of our lives. His word tells us not to fear for He is with us. The Word of God, tells us that even in the fiery furnace God was with the 3 Hebrew boys Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. It tells us that When David faced a giant, Goliath, He was not alone and He had the victory because God’s presence went with Him in that fight. It tells us that when Joseph was rejected by his own brothers and thrown into a pit that his story did not end there, God would one day redeem his story and set a table before Him in the presence of His enemies. He went on to become one of the most powerful men in all of Egypt as God positioned him for that throughout his dark valley season.

When I speak of the darkest valley I speak of a passage within the Bible, in Psalm 23 which has spoken to my heart, so much over the last few years. Psalm 23, is such an encouraging passage because it not only speaks of the valley, but reminds us that He is with us in it, and that He prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies. Praise God that He does exactly that in each of our lives.

God Never Leaves Us Even In The Darkest Valley

For Joseph, He still walked through the Valley but God pulled Him out and placed His feet steadily in a position far above where He once was in that valley. David went from tending sheep and fighting giants to the King of Israel. The 3 Hebrew boys chose not to bow down to the idol that they were told to even unto death, then God didn’t rescue them from the fire, He joined them in the fire and elevated them after the fire as they proved to King Nebuchadnezzar that their God was the one and only God.

You may still have to walk through this valley that looks dark but if you cry out to Jesus He will never leave you alone in the valley. He will make His presence known, He will rescue you in times of trouble or lead you through those situations. You will very clearly experience the difference between a dark valley with the presence of the Lord and a dark valley without God’s presence if you have walked them both ways.

Without Jesus presence there is little hope for our future in the trials of life. With Jesus by our side in the storms of life we have peace, hope and a constant companion that will never leave us or forsake us. We will experience a renewed hope, joy and peace that we could not get anywhere else and can never earn or receive on our own.

How Can I Invite Jesus Presence Into My Situation

If you personally know Jesus He is already with you in whatever situation you are walking through. We just need to remember His presence as Peter when He was walking on water with Jesus. If you remember when He took his eyes off Jesus and began to worry that was when He began to sink. But He cried out to Jesus as He remembered Jesus was there. He only sank when He allowed the circumstances to become bigger than His God. However, God already knows our tendency to do that and He understands because He made us. His Holy Spririt will gently remind us of the truths in scripture and lead us forward through even the scary times. The big reminder in scripture is not that we will not walk through the hard times. The reminder is always that we will not walk through the alone or defeated because our God is wih us.

Make A Choice Today To

Keep your mind fixed on God and His many Promises in His word

Stop paying attention to your problems and remember who is in control

Trust your unknown future to our God who knows everything already before it happens

Surrender your hopes, fears and dreams to God and allow Him to lead and guide you daily

Fear not in all situations because His presence is always there covering you in safety

My Own Recent Dark Valley

Today I believe I am finally leaving a very dark valley that I myself have been in. I can attest that in this dark valley I was never alone for one single day. I saw very difficult days as I walked through a very real health scare. I was diagnosed with Lyme Disease and Tick born relapsing fever after over a year of misdiagnosis by mutiple doctors who really disappointed me by telling me I was fine when I knew deep down something was very wrong. The entire time my body felt like my nervous system was on edge and came on suddenly with no signs that something was wrong until it began. I believed they were missing something but could not put my finger on it or get any answers that made sense. I felt like my health and life were suddenly stolen from me, but God proved His faithfulness to me time and time again. When I had my worst days He was there. Prayers for me made a difference but there were prayers prayed and words spoken by well meaning believers that left me questioning God as they did not align with what I saw and experienced. God himself led me through it all, comforting and guiding me and when I was confused or felt hopeless, He would gently remind me of His presence.

My Testimony - God Still Heals Today

Today I have experienced much healing in unconventional ways led by God alone. If you would have told me to walk the path that He led me on beforehand, I would not have believed that it would lead to healing. But God proved that He really does use the foolish things of the world to shame the wise as He says in 1 Corinthians 1: 27. In this life we constantly look at healing and expect healthcare and medicine to always be the answer. In my case it was not the answer in fact it absolutely failed me. However, God never did and despite no antiobiotics given, herbs and supplements being the only thing He led me to use He has divinely healed me in so many ways. I will never forget some of the prayers prayed for me by people in the church and words that He spoke through each of them. I know that He was speaking those words and confirming the path that He had me on. My faith in Him alone is what I believe led me to this place. I do not believe any specific herb, supplement, my practitioner or even my own ability to believe is what Healed me. I believe that depsite me, depsite this world, depsite everything that we are told is wise enough to save us that He alone saved me every time.

Praise God When You Are In The Valley

Before I saw the edge of this dark valley, which is where I see myself currently I saw God’s grace, mercy and experienced his overwhelming peace. Today I can testify because of this experience that God alone is our healer. Not one thing in this life will truly be healed without Him allowing it to be and I believe that with all my heart. One thing that stood out more than anything that I learned in this valley is the importance of praising him depsite the circumstances. He would consistently remind me to Praise Him before I see my miracle. It was not always easy to praise God in the storm but it was always the answer. We should always lay our requests before Him daily & praise Him despite the circumstance. I believe that sort of relationship is what He designed us to have with Him. One of complete surrennder and trust in Him alone. A relationship where we recognise that He alone deserves our praise even when things do not yet look like we desire them to. If they never look the way that we want them to I know that I should also pray and praise Him until my heart desires what He desires for me. I am so grateful for the lessons that I learned through this dark valley and I now recognise the blessing that this dark valley was in my life.

My Prayer For You Today

Heavenly father, I come to you today in Jesus name. I thank you Jesus for the dark valley that taught me so much and led me into a deeper relationship with you. Thank you for leading each of my readers through their own dark valleys today and everyday. Holy Spirit remind them from this day forward of the reminders in God’s word that will speak to their souls exactly what you desire that they learn in this valley. Encourage them and remind them of you presence. Amen