Are you in a valley? Maybe it is your circumstances, or the people around you, or even yourself? You aren't alone...
Welcome to the valley! It’s your 1,347th visit…
A bit rockier. And narrower for sure. But it is still a valley. And that awesome week you just had feels so far away…
Unfortunately, we live in a sinful world where bad stuff happens. Sometimes, the bad stuff is our own doing. Other times, it is completely out of our control. But regardless, it feels like we should set up camp here, because we come so often!
“I don’t want to live this way,” you think. “What do I do?” God’s Word talks a lot about the hard times of life. Interestingly enough, most of the Bible’s “heroes” had some big mistakes and sufferings. Let’s talk about one.
Here is something to do when you’re in the valley, besides listening to “Hills and Valleys” by Tauren Wells (which is a terribly catchy song.) Let’s take a look at Jonah.
In Jonah, chapter 2, we encounter a guy praying to God in the belly of a fish. His life is literally sinking. Jonah was thrown overboard, swallowed by a giant fish, and now feels super abandoned. He has no control over what is happening, and chances are he won’t make it out alive. And this problem really is his fault! He didn’t listen to God’s directions. Sounds like he hit (ocean) rock bottom. He is in a valley…
But here, in this valley, is where it gets interesting. Though he is at the bottom of the ocean, and though it is all his own fault, and though it looks like he may die, Jonah recognizes that God is still in control.
In Jonah 2:9, Jonah declares, “But I will offer sacrifices with songs of praise.” Jonah is praising God even when he has absolutely no control over anything. Jonah keeps his eyes on God through his valley. Verse 7 ends with, “And my earnest prayer went out to You in Your holy Temple.”
And God heard Jonah’s prayer. God delivered him from this smelly situation (in more ways than one) and used it for good. Jonah ended up preaching to the nations.
Now you may think, “Hooray! Everything is good. No worries.” But actually, Jonah persisted to mess up. (Check out the rest of the book!) So like Jonah, we may still have more valleys in the future. But if Jonah could focus on God in the stomach of a fish, we can do the same in our valleys.
So put it into practice!
Challenges:
1) What is your “fish?” What is the problem you are in that seems too big? Write or draw this out!
2) Pray to God about this problem. Like Jonah, remember God is in control, and turn to Him for help.
3) For further reading, check out Psalm 13. Read through this Psalm (a fancy way of saying prayer.)
Comments