Friend of The Valley

When I started this blog journey almost 10 months ago, I had no idea what it would require of me. I thought it would be light hearted fun and honestly just an outlet for my gifting. I quickly realized God had other plans. This platform was meant for more. More depth, more room, and more truth. I thought I would be walking this journey out from a mountain top season but instead it has been a valley a majority of the time. How could anything good come from my valley? What encouragement could I offer to you, if I can't even find my own? Those are the questions I would constantly ask myself. There have been many times where I have wanted to quit. Either it's been too hard or I didn't feel qualified. Or I just didn't feel like it. I created this blog so that people could feel seen and encouraged. I want people to read these posts and know that they're not alone in their struggles. And I want them to know that faith isn't easy but it's worth it and it means something. At no point did I expect my own valley to be the very place that I produced those things.

I am sure we have all heard many messages of the power and great things that are produced because of a valley season. And to be honest, it all sounds good until it's you in the valley. Until it's you that feels alone and confused. Until it's you that feels like this valley has no end. It's easy to encourage and tell someone to press through until it's that has to do the pushing. Today's blog isn't a sad one, haha. It's quite the opposite. It's about how we get the opportunity to choose to become a friend of the valley rather than a foe.

Me and valley seasons have never been friends. They frustrate me and I do everything in my power to speed them up, haha. I hate them. They're scary and so lonely and filled with so many questions. Sometimes it feels like God takes a vacation when I am in the valley. Though I know that's not true, that's just how it feels. It wasn't till recently where I became a lover of the valley. A lover of the obscurity and of the unknown. When all of this began, I thought having big faith would get me out of here quicker lol. I prayed so hard and fasted even harder. And every time I woke up, I was still here. In the valley. I held on hoping that one day I would wake up and everything would be different. I am here to tell you that though nothing has changed, everything has changed.

10 months ago I was anxious about the things to come. I was constantly looking for ways to be in control and couldn't find any. I felt like all my hopes and dreams had been crushed in one moment. I didn't feel like I knew who God was anymore and I didn't trust myself. But this valley has shown me otherwise. In this valley God has reestablished His love for me. Which is probably the most important thing you could ever need before doing anything. If you don't have a firm grasp of how much God loves you, it'll be really hard to believe that He is good and that He is faithful. In this valley, God has shown me the true power of His word. And I am not talking about the sweet promises that He whispers to our souls. I am talking about His written word. He's shown me that it's true and can anchor me in times like these. See, it's in the valley where we learn who God really is. It's in the valley where He shows the inner parts of His being. On the mountain top, He flexes His big God muscles. But in the valley, He shows you His heart beat and His nail pierced hands. And I don't know about you but there's something special about a God who steps down from glory and into the trenches with us that makes me grateful for these seasons.

At the top of the year I asked God to allow me to experience His majesty in a new way. In the real way. In the miraculous and unthinkable. Obviously my expectations were not at all what He had in mind. I wanted open doors but He wanted maturity. I wanted love and union but He wanted healing. I wanted big and exciting but He wanted sturdy and steadfast. He did show me His majesty and His miracle working power. He showed me His majesty in the little things and the secret place, not in opportunity or material things that I thought I needed. The miracle He showed me was that He still loves me even when I blatantly sin without any regard for what He’s done for me. The miracle is that I'm still breathing when I had every opportunity to stop. The miracle is that He still has a plan and a purpose for my life even when I don’t want it. He’s a big God that cares about the little things and the only way to learn that is in the lonely seasons. In the seasons where you are down to nothing but you and God. His majesty that we see on mountain tops is as a result of the majesty we recognize in our valleys. If we claim that He’s the same yesterday, today, and forever, then that means He’s the same up high as He is below.

I feel like this post is kind of all over the place and for that I apologize!! I've been in such a place of gratitude for where I am at and the avenue that which God chose to use to get me here. And I wanted to share this because I know I am not the only one that has found themselves in a season that is painful and feels like it will never end. I am here to encourage you that it will. I may not know when, but I know that it will. But you have an opportunity right now to be a friend of the valley. It's so much easier that way and so much better. My song of this season has been "Defender" by Katie Torwalt. And at the end, during a spontaneous moment, she says:

"it's so much easier your way."

It's so much easier His way. When we talk about ease, we don’t mean in the level of difficulty. There is nothing particularly “easy” about trusting and following God through a valley. The bible even warns us of trials and tribulations because we follow Him. But Matthew 11:30 says “For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

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When Jesus says that His yoke is easy, He doesn’t mean in difficulty. The word easy in the bible is referred to as “well fitting”. And it is well fitting because He bears all things with us. He carry’s the burden and pain with us. So when we say it’s so much “easier” His way, we’re saying His way is more fitting for me. His way is more tailored for me. His way doesn’t leave me alone but it promises a friend and help in my time of need. It’s so much easier His way. Therefor it’s so much better His way. So much better. It may not seem like it today, but it is.

If you find yourself on the mountaintop, I am so happy for you! Take it in and give God all the glory because He is worth it. And if you find yourself in the valley, I am still so happy for you. Take it in and give God the glory because He is worth it, and He will make this worth your while. Become a friend of the valley and watch what it will become of you.