VISION IN THE VALLEY

If you have ever stood on a mountaintop as I have during my skiing days you find that your view is quite spectacular.  So many of those days in Colorado were always blessed with 360 degree views.  They took my breath away.  My soul was lifted by GOD’S creation around me and I was left with the wonder of feeling so small next to those tall peaks.  On a clear day you really could see forever!

There are many valley experiences in life and often we spend a good amount of time there.  In a literal valley you are surrounded by tall trees and mountain peaks so much so, that you tend to feel small and hemmed in and you long for a clearing so that you can “see” again. Your vision is limited and your view is blocked.

And so it goes with life!  On a mountaintop our view is clear, but in a valley we are confused and uncertain unable to find the clarity we need.  We cry out to the LORD in our valleys and we humble ourselves and submit finally to HIM, because our own will is broken.  Are you currently in a valley?   If so, where do we find the clarity and hope that our broken hearts long for?

JOEL 3: 14 “THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS ARE WAITING IN THE VALLEY OF DECISION.  THERE THE DAY OF THE LORD WILL SOON ARRIVE.”

Our vision in the valley can only be found and understood when we abide with JESUS there.  HE waits for us, because HE knows our story and HE knows we have traveled there only to find we are lost and broken.  Oh how thankful we should be that HE is patient with us in that valley, no matter how long it takes us to walk through it.

OUR VISION IN THE VALLEY MUST REMAIN VERTICAL IF WE ARE TO HAVE ANY CLARITY AT ALL.

We may feel quite alone in that valley of ours, but JESUS is there telling us to always look up and to stand tall and strong because HE will see us through and will help keep our vision clear.  Without HIM we are just lost and uncertain of which direction to go.

IN THE VALLEY KEEP YOUR EYES………UP.

Our vision should be vertical rather than horizontal and in so doing all we will see is JESUS, waiting for us with open arms in the Great Throne Room of Heaven.  What a wonderful thought!  What a hope to grasp onto.  What a way to begin our journey with the end in mind!  Because the end is the treasure and the road traveled along the way will be rocky at times and we will go up mountaintops and down into valleys.  But when our vision stays vertical, oh what a vision we see!  JESUS is doing this right now for us……..

 PSALM 23:5 “YOU PREPARE A TABLE BEFORE ME IN THE PRESENCE OF MY ENEMIES……MY CUP OVERFLOWS!”

Our cups will and can overflow with gladness, because the valley IS taking us somewhere worthwhile! Our valleys are really our mountaintops if our gaze remains vertical!

In the valley our hearts are a little lighter, knowing HE is guiding us when we cannot see and loving us when no one else does.  HE loves us in spite of our sinful selves, in spite of our choices because HE has already paid the price for us……..you see CHRIST said:  it is finished!

 

Let us desire HIS vision, not ours.  Let our vision be clear on the GOSPEL and HIS word alone.  Then before we know it, the valley falls away under our feet and we turn to find ourselves on that mountaintop once again.

Our vision in the valley is because we believe there is more……..more grace, more mercy and more love and hope.   There is more GOD and more abundance of GOD in all things including the valleys and the mountaintops. 

All of this hope, will lift us once again to that peak of abundant love from our Savior because HIS love alone…….. conquers all things for now and forevermore!

Take comfort in your current valley………HE is there with you my friends!

ISAIAH 40: 3 “LISTEN! IT’S THE VOICE OF SOMEONE SHOUTING, “CLEAR THE WAY THROUGH THE WILDERNESS FOR THE LORD!  MAKE A STRAIGHT HIGHWAY THROUGH THE WASTELAND FOR OUR GOD!”