This weeks Devotional – Life’s Valleys By Steve Baley Most of life happens in the valleys. Mountain top experiences are few and far between. Sometimes the ride from the top of the mountain to the bottom of the valley is, at its worst, life threating and, at its least, not pleasant. The scriptures speaks of valleys often. Psalm 23 verse 4 talks about walking through the valley of the shadow of death. A metaphor for lonely dangerous places. Joel 3 verse 14 refers to valleys as places of decision, another metaphor for crisis points in our lives when we have to face challenges or make major changes without the certainly we have when we are on the mountaintop. Isaiah 40 verse 4 refers to every valley being lifted up, a metaphor for upheaval and disruption in our lives. Out of control consequences either brought on by our own actions or the actions of others. I do not like the valleys. The worst ones are very personal and I do not share them. They can be dark, scary and sometimes feel terminal. Others are not so dramatic or as simple as “You got to be kidding, what am I supposed to do now?” Sometimes life’s circumstances lead us into the valley. Sometimes we walk ourselves into them by the choices we make. Did you know sometimes God places us in the valley? Psalm 23 says He is with us and protects us while there but it’s more than that. Ezekiel 37 is a great example of God leading someone into the valley. The passage reads as follows: “The hand of the LORD was upon me, and He brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of the valley; and it was full of bones. 2 He caused me to pass among them round about, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley; and lo, they were very dry. 3 He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord GOD, You know.” God takes Ezekiel in to a valley of death. An army went down in defeat. Lives were lost, dreams died, failure complete. Ezekiel sees failure everywhere he looks. The bones are very dry. This valley of defeat has been around a long time. The bones are not buried, everywhere he turns failure and defeat stares back at him. But God has a reason for Ezekiel to be in the valley and poses a questions to him. Can these bones live? It is a good question, can something that is broken be fixed? Can sins be forgiven? Can relationships be restored? Can fear be overcome? Can I change? What question do you ask when in your valley? Ezekiel side steps the question and puts it back on God. “O Lord God, You know.” Most of us would look over the ship wrecks of our lives and say heck no this cannot be fixed. God gives Ezekiel a conditional promise as the passage continues: 4 Again He said to me, “Prophesy over these bones and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.’ 5 Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones, ‘Behold, I will cause breath to enter you that you may come to life. 6 I will put sinews on you, make flesh grow back on you, cover you with skin and put breath in you that you may come alive; and you will know that I am the LORD.’” God gives him a command: hear the word of the Lord. He has given Him a promise: you may come to life. He gives him an action to take: prophesy over these bones. And finally He gives him a reason why he is in this valley and why he wants to get him out: that…you may know that I am God. Ezekiel did as God had asked and things began to happen. The passage continues: 7 So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold, a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to its bone. 8 And I looked, and behold, sinews were on them, and flesh grew and skin covered them; but there was no breath in them. Note that Ezekiel’s action lead to an incomplete restoration of life for the bones. God speaks to him again to take another similar step. The passage continues: 9 Then He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they come to life.”’” 10 So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they came to life and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army. God wants to treat us the same way. It does not matter if you are in one of life’s valleys like the prodigal son who found himself eating pig’s food because of a series of bad choices or you have been thrown down a cistern by your brothers like Joseph was. It is always true as stated in Psalms 23 that God is with us and will protect us. Psalm 23: 4 even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. It is also always true as stated in Joel that many people are going through life’s valleys. It’s a common experience, but God in near and waiting for us to make a choice: Joel 3:14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. What is the choice? • Look for and listen to God’s voice. • Search the scriptures for His promises that apply to you circumstances. • Take that first action God is asking for, them the next step, then the next… What will happen? • Over time you will see God change your circumstances and you also. • God will have what He seeks, that you will know He is Lord. What if I do nothing? Things will probably get worse, there is an interesting statement in Ecclesiastes 4 verse 5 that reads: “The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh.” The valley’s tend to get deepen through in attention. Here are a few great promises found in the scriptures: 2 Peter 1:4 And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Matthew 11:28-29 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Philippians 4:19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:37-39 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. John 14:27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. Romans 10:9 If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
Posted on: Fri, 15 Aug 2014 13:39:18 +0000
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