Exodus
Psalm 84:5-7 says: "And how blessed all those in whom you live; whose lives become roads you travel; They wind through lonesome valleys, come upon brooks, discover cool springs and pools brimming with rain! God-traveled, these roads curve up the mountain, and at last turn- Zion! God in full view!"
God surely is living in me- of this I have no doubt! Because of this fact I am blessed. One thing interesting that is also clear to me in this passage is the fact that even though Christ is alive in me and even though I am blessed I will still wind through lonesome valleys.
These valleys seem inevitable. No where does God promise us that this road will be easy that we are called to walk as Children of God. On the contrary as is evident here we must walk through them. When we face a lonesome valley God's grace surely meets us there- but only as we walk through it. He will bless us and carry us and walk with us every step of the way- but it is still a walk THROUGH the valley.
God does not say that He will take us around the valley to refreshing peaceful waters. He does not say we will walk over or under the valley- but instead we must walk THROUGH the valley. Through it is where we will find brooks, cool springs and pools brimming with rain.
The Webster's dictionary definition of the word valley is, "An elongated lowland between ranges of mountains, hills, or other uplands."
Think of this definition in a spiritual light. God's word says that He leads us from "glory to glory," but what about the time in between? There are valleys in between the mountains. But through the valley, no matter how long, eventually you will come upon another mountain; another glory.
I am surely in a valley now as I grieve the death of my husband. The mountain I seemed to fall from was so high and this valley seems so low, so dry, so barren and so lonely. But what a promise here in psalm 84! There is so much hope here. I will cling to God as I walk through this valley and I will walk. It is only as I am continuing to walk through this that the rest of the promise in Psalm 84 can become real to me from God.
God has done His part, He is faithful and true. I have a part to do as well. I believe that I play a part in determining how long it will take to walk through this valley I am in. The glory I will find at the mountain at the end of this valley is also in a large part up to me. Like I have been saying- we live in a fallen world and in this world God gives us freedom of choice. He has His plan and His will but we must choose to obey and follow Him.
In the Exodus when Moses lead God's children out of Egypt, God wanted to bring them into the promised land. He wanted Mosed to bring them THROUGH the valley and to the mountain. He want to bring them out of the bodage and hardships they were in and into glory and give them blessings.
As you read this story in Exodus there is a major glitch in the story. The journey from Egypt to the promised land should have only taken them 40 days. That is it! But they did not get there in 40 days- it took them 40 years to get to the promised land! Why such a discrepancy God?
If the children of God had simply obeyed and trusted God they would have reached the promise land much sooner and with greater ease. Instead though, they chose not to believe God and they put their trust in man and in their own strength. They walked around in the dessert basically in circles for 40 years. It took them that long to realize that God was the only way to get through the valley and to the promised land.
As I am now in this valley I want to learn from these mistakes written about in Exodus. I don't want it to take 40 years to get through this. I want to be completely obedient to God. I want to submit to Him and surrender all of myself to Him. He didn't promise it would be easy but He did promise me His help. Together we will get through it. I want to get through it and get out of this valley. I have excitement in me of the glorious mountains that are ahead of me.
I will keep on walking and keep on obeying. God will never stop leading me. God will NEVER leave me- it is only myself who is capable of such a thing. The only way I can get away from God is if I chose to leave him. The biggest way to leave Him is through sin. Sin separates us from God- that is why it grieves His heart! He wants us to be with Him and to want Him. I do want Him and I do want to be with Him.
I will close with this echo of my heart-Psalm 23:3-4, " True to your word; you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction. Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I'm not afraid when you walk by my side. Your trusy shepherd's crook makes me feel secure." (The Message Bible)
posted by Kellie # 3:25 PM
