Christians, if you have ever watched anything about mountain climbing, you begin to realize that every tool, every piece of equipment has a specific purpose and function. Some items, such as clothing or gloves and goggles, protect from the elements experienced on the climb. Other tools, ropes, hooks, and hammers all aid the climber in reaching their destination. I think about how climbers only take what is absolutely necessary with them, to help them achieve their goal. Could you imagine a mountain climber with their ropes and equipment, also lugging a huge rolling suitcase with them, full of non-essential items?! NO! They would leave all of that in the valley.
Now in my own valley experience, I’ve noticed that when I left the last peak, I had a lot of baggage. This could have been certain ideas, preferences, plans, dreams, wants and desires. Some were perfectly good, some possibly corrupted, but I was carrying them down the mountain into the valley. I found that the longer and lower I went, the more stuff I just laid down and left in the valley. It was too much of a burden, too much time and energy spent hauling them around. When I think about it now, most of the time it was not worth the distance I had carried it and I wish I had laid it down sooner.
Christians, go willingly on the journey with God. He has an ultimate plan. He knows what it takes to get you from one peak to the next and there is so much purpose in the process. Jesus takes our hand and leads us, He teaches us what faith truly is and I personally believe that valleys have a lot to do with purification. (They are for refining and strengthening). I have to admit for myself – it was a scary and treacherous journey into the valley. There were many, many questions and very few answers at the time. I assure you that as you reach the base of the next mountain and you look back at what you came through, you see who you have become. You find yourself fully prepared to climb the next mountain in front of you. The climb will be made easier, if you have willingly left the unnecessary things in the valley.
I recall hearing a speaker say that God had said to them, “Bridges are man-made, I CREATED valleys.” It is inevitable that if you truly walk with God long enough, you will find yourself in a valley, between where/who you were and where/who God wants you to be. I encourage you, leave it, whatever it is in the valley, and go with God, In Jesus Name, Amen.
Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for you are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me. Psalm 23:4 (AMP)
For the Lord is a great God and a great King above all gods, In whose hand are the depths of the earth, the peaks of the mountains are His also. Psalms 95:3-4 (NASB)
I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1 (NIV)
Therefore then, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us. Hebrews 12:1 (AMP)
written and posted by Daniel Poggensee | 2017
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