Some of you may or may not know, these past few weeks have been a valley for me. I don't want to go into lots of detail but Sunday was my day to break down and realize that I was in a valley and that I needed to be aware of it and get out of it. You know those times you just get into a funk and dont realize it until it gets a little deep and youre like "hey, wait a second". That was me on Sunday, but though Sunday was a hard day realizing I was in a pit, it was also a glorious day because it was the start of my breakthrough from the valley. You see, when we are hear on this earth, we will not always be on the mountain top, unfortuantly we can't jump from mountain peak to peak and just stay there. And trust me dear brothers and sisters, I wish so badly that we could stay on mountain tops all the time. There are times we have to go through a valley or two, sometimes 3 or 4.( And also note, that though we can't stay on mountain tops at all times, we also have the power to to not stay in a valley at all times!) It is in those valleys that it hurts, that it is uncomfortable, its not nice and comfy, it just flat out sucks! But remember, it is in those times that we are changed, that we put our words of faith into words of action, we put our faith into actions, that we realize, we can't walk through the valley alone, that we can't get through the rocks and hard spots with our own strength and stamina. We need help, we need God. God wants us to stand on mountain tops, but He also wants us to depend on Him to get us through the valley. It is in the valley that you find yourself. It is in that time that you find out who you are in God, you find out how strong you are, how loved you are and how treasured you are! You just have to pick up yourself, dust off the dirt and say "Come on God, help me to get out of this valley, to treck up that mountain so I can stand on it. I can't do this by myself, I need you to come with me on this journey. Use me Lord, change me to have your eyes, your heart, and give me strength to be an overcomer. For your glory, Jesus!"
I hope this encourages you all today, no matter what season you are in, whether it be a valley or a mountain season, know that God is there with you and wants you to rest in Him. Keep your hearts fixed on Jesus and not on how far you have to go for your breakthrough, just on Jesus because He is your saving grace. Love each of you so so much!!
And without further ado, the passage I orginally started talking about!
"But now, God’s Message,
the God who made you in the first place, Jacob,
the One who got you started, Israel:
“Don’t be afraid, I’ve redeemed you.
I’ve called your name. You’re mine.
When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you.
When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down.
When you’re between a rock and a hard place,
it won’t be a dead end—
Because I am God, your personal God,
The Holy of Israel, your Savior.
I paid a huge price for you:
all of Egypt, with rich Cush and Seba thrown in!
That’s how much you mean to me!
That’s how much I love you!
I’d sell off the whole world to get you back,
trade the creation just for you.
“So don’t be afraid: I’m with you.
I’ll round up all your scattered children,
pull them in from east and west.
I’ll send orders north and south:
‘Send them back.
Return my sons from distant lands,
my daughters from faraway places.
I want them back, every last one who bears my name,
every man, woman, and child
Whom I created for my glory,
yes, personally formed and made each one.’”
-Isaiah 43:1-7 (The Message)
the God who made you in the first place, Jacob,
the One who got you started, Israel:
“Don’t be afraid, I’ve redeemed you.
I’ve called your name. You’re mine.
When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you.
When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down.
When you’re between a rock and a hard place,
it won’t be a dead end—
Because I am God, your personal God,
The Holy of Israel, your Savior.
I paid a huge price for you:
all of Egypt, with rich Cush and Seba thrown in!
That’s how much you mean to me!
That’s how much I love you!
I’d sell off the whole world to get you back,
trade the creation just for you.
“So don’t be afraid: I’m with you.
I’ll round up all your scattered children,
pull them in from east and west.
I’ll send orders north and south:
‘Send them back.
Return my sons from distant lands,
my daughters from faraway places.
I want them back, every last one who bears my name,
every man, woman, and child
Whom I created for my glory,
yes, personally formed and made each one.’”
-Isaiah 43:1-7 (The Message)
