There is Beautiful Growth in the Valley

"Everybody wants to be on the mountaintop, but if you'll remember, mountaintops are rocky and cold.  There is no growth on the top of the mountain. Sure, the view is great, but what's a view for? A view just gives us a glimpse of our next destination - our next target. But to hit that target, we must come off the mountain, through the valley, and begin to climb the next slope. It is in the valley that we slog through the lush grass and rich soil, learning and becoming what enables us to summit to life's next peak." ... The Noticer, by Andy Andrews

Today God showed me that he’s taking me into a small, beautiful valley. It’s not deep or wide. It’s just a short process of more growth in a specific area of learning more about grace. 

The valley doesn’t have to be a scary place like our world has made it out to be. You see, the valley is actually the place where the most growth happens... IF we CHOOSE growth.

It’s where the water source is.

It’s where life happens.

It’s where growth happens
It's where beauty is created.

So many times when people talk about being in the valley, we think it’s a bad place to be. It doesn’t have to be. It’s all in how we respond to where we are. Life is full of ups and downs.

I’ve been in a valley, then the mountaintop, then the valley, then the mountaintop …

It’s happened over and over.

Many times the valley is beautiful but rocky too. The rocks remind me of the painful times in the valley. The rocks also add depth and character. 

I've been in the valley of bold rejection. 
The unbearable valley of deep grief was extremely long and hard.
The valley of letting go of control was more painful than it should have been.
Being in the intense valley of being a stepmom was way too long. 
The lonely valley of letting go of some parenting responsibilities has brought a different kind of grief.
This year the freeing valley of surrendering it all to God has been so rewarding even while it's been a bit of an uncomfortable process. 

In retrospect, the process of going into, being in and then coming out of the valley has brought an immeasurable amount of growth. It was a place of being pruned, watered and cared for in ways that forced me to grow in ways that I would never have chosen otherwise. In reality, we can't get to the mountaintop without climbing to the top. It takes a lot of strength, determination and perseverance to get there. Push through! 

Being in the valley can also be a place of rest. It takes a lot of work to get down to the valley and it takes even more work to come out of it. There have been many times when I've needed to simply rest in Jesus through the loneliness, unbearable grief and intensity of what God was doing. To be able to rest in Jesus is a very good thing. Giving myself permission to do that was freeing for me. 

I grew in ...

… appreciating grief even though it's painful

… forgiving others and learning to forget

… letting go of things I can’t control

… giving control to God - so good to do

… doing unto others even when everything within me doesn't want to

… obedience to Christ in everything

… surrendering it all to Him
... resting in Him when it's too hard for me

… becoming more like Jesus every day

What does God want for us? I believe he wants us to grow to be more and more like his son Jesus. It's not easy to be stretched and to grow. Growing pains can be quite painful at times. Not growing shouldn't be an option for us as long as we are alive.

Let's keep perspective and remember that being in the valley is better for our future than being on the mountaintop although being on the mountaintop can be like a breath of fresh air when we need it.

My hope is that my times in the valley will be beautiful and full of more growth…