Living in the Valley

The grasslands of the desert overflow; the hills are clothed with gladness. The meadows are covered with flocks and the valleys are mantled with grain; they shout for joy and sing.
Psalm 65:12-13

As I was driving home I realized that I have spent my whole life living in a valley. As I drove I thought about how just a couple hours west of where I live I can stand on the shore and witness the power of the ocean. I thought about how a couple hours west would bring me to the majesty of the mountains. Then I realized I love living in the valley.

Often times in the language of our faith valleys are equated with hard times, while mountains are where we find a “spiritual high” if you will. In the Scriptures there are lots of valleys. Battles are fought in valleys; some valleys are desolate and are to be avoided. In Psalm 23:4 we find the valley of the shadow of death. Then there are valleys like the one mentioned in today’s verse - valleys dressed in grain and shouting for joy. The prophet Joel talks of a day when those desolate valleys will one day be made new (Joel 3:18). 

We all need to have mountain experiences and oceans clearly display God’s power. But valleys are good for living in. The valley I am living in has gone green from recent rains and soon the fruit trees will blossom taking the beauty of the valley to a higher level. 

I will be the first to admit that valleys are not easy to live in - life can be messy and painful. Life in the valley can bring doubt and cloud the heart and mind. But in the midst of the messiness if we look to the One who made the valleys, we will find our lives growing in the fertile soil of His love and grace. 

If you live on the shore or in the mountains - praise the Lord for the beauty that surrounds you. If you live in a valley like me take time you realize you too are surrounded by beauty. If life has become a valley that it is desolate, fear not the Lord is making you into something beautiful. 

A Prayer
Father, thank you for the spiritual highs we get from mountain top experiences. Thank you for the power that the oceans display. Thank you for the all the valleys of life - the fertile ones and the desolate ones - each has something for us. When we find ourselves in one not so friendly may we find you there preparing to make us into something beautiful. In the name of Jesus, Amen