When was the last time you had a mountaintop experience? Living in Colorado, I am blessed with the opportunity to hike and/or drive through a variety of mountains, which we affectionately call 14ers. A 14er is simply a mountain whose peak exceeds 14,000 feet. Hiking these mountains comes with its fair share of obstacles but always presents a unique mountaintop experience.
Maybe you haven’t had the opportunity to climb mountains, but I am guessing you have had a mountaintop experience with your faith. You probably don’t have to dig deep into your faith journey to find pivotal moments that have advanced your growth in your relationship with God.
Maybe it was a conference or an event you attended or went to over the course of your life. (For example, I recently attended the annual Preaching and Teaching Conference at Ozark Christian College in Joplin, Missouri, which continues to be a source of encouragement and inspiration in my life.) Perhaps for you, the mountaintop experience connected to when you first accepted Christ or attended church camp, or perhaps you can pinpoint a season where you first got serious about your faith.
As a pastor and someone who loves the church, I wish that “spiritual highs” happened for people more often, but this isn’t always God’s intention for us. In extended seasons in spiritual valleys, we might find ourselves wondering: is God still the same God in the valley as He is on the mountaintop?
Elijah on the Mountaintop
This is a question the prophet Elijah might have wrestled with surrounding the events of 1 Kings 18-19. Elijah was in the middle of a spiritual battle in which God sent him to Mount Carmel in northern Israel to defeat the prophets of the false god, Baal. The hope was that the Israelites would be drawn back to faith in Yahweh. Elijah went as God instructed and allowed God to do his thing, showing that Yahweh was the one true God. Upon defeating these prophets in a trial to see which God sent down fire from heaven, Elijah must have experienced a significant mountaintop experience.
Yet, just a few verses later, we discover that Elijah has quickly sunk into a deep spiritual valley. It was the queen Jezebel’s prophets whom Elijah defeated, and she wanted revenge. Hearing her death threats, Elijah ran. In the wilderness, Elijah prayed a bitter, defeated prayer: “I have had enough, Lord. Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors” (1 Kings 19:4b).
“Just a few verses later, we discover that Elijah has quickly sunk into a deep spiritual valley.”
We know God is good on the mountain. Is He still as good when believing and teaching biblical truth means facing hostility? Is He still as good when you get an unexpected cancer diagnosis or when you don’t know if you will have the money to provide for your family?
What is a valley good for? Consider the following four observations about valleys—and note what God can accomplish through them for us.
The Valley Is a Good Time to . . . See Better
A spiritual valley can accomplish the same result as a fast. When we set aside food for a time to focus on God, we are reminded how much we need Him. Spiritual valleys give us clarity as we come to remember our reliance upon God.
In the valley, Elijah was reminded that God was there all along, not just in fire from heaven but in gentle whispers (1 Kings 19:11-13). Paul’s persistent “thorn in the flesh” reminded Paul that God’s grace was sufficient for him (2 Corinthians 12:7-9). When David was fleeing from King Saul, he was reminded, “Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me” (Psalm 54:4).
Navigating the valley well means seeing in it our need for God.
The Valley Is a Good Time to . . . Grow Stronger
I have learned in my 32 years on this planet that everything that happens in my life has a purpose. This isn’t always the easiest thing to recognize, but eventually, I am certain I will be able to see it. If this principle is true, then these seasons of the valley must have a purpose for our lives. In these valley seasons, might I suggest asking God what this season’s purpose is and how I can use it to advance the kingdom?
In his letter to the Roman church, Paul tells us that we should “rejoice in our sufferings because we know that suffering provides perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Romans 5:3-5, NIV). You don’t gain joy or hope because everything is going great. If you want to grow in hope or joy, you may very well need to live for a season in the valley.
“If you want to grow in hope or joy, you may very well need to live for a season in the valley.”
Paul, in his letter to the church in Philippi, describes how this principle worked in his life,
“Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.” (Philippians 1:12-14, NIV)
The Valley Is a Good Time to . . . Build Empathy
Your time in spiritual valleys will help you recognize when others are experiencing them too. Although this passage of Scripture has in mind seasons of trouble in general (not necessarily spiritual valleys in particular), notice the connection between finding comfort in our times of trouble and giving comfort to others in their tough seasons:
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, NIV).
You’re going to be in relationship with people who experience spiritual valleys, and it will help them to know that you’ve been through them too—and that they can be where faith grows instead of dies.
“Your time in spiritual valleys will help you recognize when others are experiencing them too.”
The Valley Is a Good Time to . . . Reiterate Your Faith
The valley is a good time to remind yourself that Jesus is the Lord of lords and King and kings. This of course is counterintuitive to our natural human response. It is much easier to question the goodness and power of Jesus in our sufferings—because he certainly would not allow it if he loved us, right?
Actually, times of suffering, especially when we suffer for doing what’s right, are opportunities to remind ourselves of Jesus’ lordship.
“But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” (1 Peter 3:14-15, NIV)
What kind of message are we sending to others about our faith, and how are we damaging our own faith journey, if we fail to recognize Jesus’s kingship in every season of our lives? When we’re in a spiritual valley, let’s take it as an opportunity to re-acknowledge Jesus’s lordship. This reiteration could very well be the difference between spiritual life and death.
“When we’re in a spiritual valley, let’s take it as an opportunity to re-acknowledge Jesus’s lordship.”
Conclusion
Let’s take joy in our seasons in the valley. Others are watching, God is watching, and how you handle this season makes a kingdom impact for better or worse.
You might ask yourself these kinds of questions: when I’m in a spiritual valley, how am I walking? Am I demonstrating hope and joy in this season? Am I honoring God in this season? Or am I simply chasing my next spiritual mountain top, not pausing to ask what God is doing in this season?
The simple truth is that God is good all the time, whether you’re in the valley or on the mountain. You don’t have to have constant mountaintop experiences in order to grow spiritually. Growth might happen even more powerfully in your seasons in the valley.
