I’ve posted several things regarding peaks and valleys. We all have good and bad times that we go through. We need to learn to manage these times properly. Doing this will help us to be successful.
Many times, we wish that we would never have the valleys, or bad times, in our lives. We wish that we can just have peaks all the time.
Mt Roraima in Venezuela
Do you know what it’s called when you only have peaks and no valleys? It’s called a plateau.
A plateau is a flat area. It’s boring. It’s usually lifeless. It might be at the height of a peak, but it is still a plateau.
It’s good to have short plateaus. Times in our lives when we can take a little break and relax or refresh. But it shouldn’t define our entire life.
There’s a song called “Without a Valley” by Rodney Griffin. The premise is that we would never really know and understand the love of God if we never had a valley.
It was in the valley that the Red Sea was parted. It was in the valley that the sun and moon stood still. It was in the valley that David was comforted and wrote the Psalms. It was in the valley when Jesus died for us. It was in the valley when the greatest revivals in history happened. It was in the valley when the greatest hymns and songs have been written.
I think of many times when God revealed Himself to me. Every time, it has been in a valley. I’ve referenced this before, but the time that stands out the most to me was when I was an assistant pastor. The pastor didn’t just commit a sin, but a crime. He was like a father to me – my mentor. He was the same to many others – not just in our church, but in several churches throughout Wisconsin and Illinois. There was the emotional and spiritual struggles. Plus we had discovered credit card debt. Plus the news media had “fun” for a while. It was not only a valley for me and my family, but also for the victims’ families, our church, and many other churches.
But it was also a time when we were able to see Christian love. We were able to get a better understanding of forgiveness and bitterness. We were able to grow in our faith and trust in God. We were able to draw closer to each other and value the relationships we had.
WITHOUT A VALLEY
Rodney Griffin
I’ve been walking through a valley
It was dark, and it was drear
Yet in the middle of my sorrow
I heard Jesus say, “Child, I’m still here”
But without a valley
How would I ever know
That His strong and gentle hand
Would never let me go
How would I know for sure
That I’m secure and safe wherever I go
Without a valley
How would I know
So I thank you, Lord, for each trial
How You’re teaching me Your perfect love
For You have shown that I can still have joy inside
Even though the road seems long and rough
But without a valley
How would I ever know
That His strong and gentle hand
Would never let me go
How would I know for sure
That I’m secure and safe wherever I go
Without a valley
How would I know
How have you seen God work in your valleys?