Victory in the Valley
It seems impossible for there to be any victory in the valley that we are in as a world. As someone that is very achievement focussed, all I've wanted is to be on the other side of this, for it to all be resolved.
Yet God just dropped this thought into my spirit this morning 'It's not about the resolution, it’s about the revelation'.
Are we missing the revelations God is wanting to give us in this season? When everything else is at a standstill, would we stand still in His presence?
Our search for revelation, our hunger for the encounter should be GREATER than our desire to get back to normality. Don’t hear me wrong, I'm am passionately praying that the healing of our nation would be accelerated!
But we don’t need to wait to get out of a pandemic to praise. We don’t need to wait to get out of prison to dream. We don’t need to wait to get out of the furnace to walk with Jesus.
‘I'll open up rivers for them on the barren hills,
spout fountains in the valleys.
I'll turn the baked-clay badlands into a cool pond,
the waterless waste into splashing creeks.
I'll plant the red cedar in that treeless wasteland,
also acacia, myrtle, and olive.
I'll place the cypress in the desert,
with plenty of oaks and pines.
Everyone will see this. No one can miss it
unavoidable, indisputable evidence
That I, GOD, personally did this.
It's created and signed by The Holy of Israel.’Isaiah 41:18-20
Sometimes it takes isolation to realize what well we have been relying on. It's only when we are cut off from the wells we would usually draw from, that we recognize how much we need a better source. Would we choose to walk with Jesus in the valley?
He's right here friend. He doesn't leave when things get hard. He doesn't stop pursuing you. He sees your disappointment but would trust that he has something greater for you? Not just on the other side but right here.
‘The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.’Psalms 23:1-4
What if he gave you more time to bring that creative idea to life? To pursue his word so you can reach your work colleagues? So your family could experience your day-to-day relationship with Jesus? To just rest.
I don’t want to be so focussed on getting to the other side of this that I miss an opportunity to walk on water with Jesus.
I don’t want to just be in a holding pattern. I want to grow, I want to leave stronger. I want to leave viewing the valley as a victory not a place of defeat.
So would now be the time that we become so attuned to God's voice and perspective? Let's pursue His presence wholeheartedly and see His light shine into this hurting world.
*Also wrote a blog post on ‘Detaching Disappointment’ which I really believe will further encourage you during this time https://www.styleoffaith.com/home/detaching-disappointment Please let me know if I can pray for you in any way friends. Let’s stand together during this season.
