Devotional 03-20-2022

The God of Our Valleys

In 1 Kings 20:26-27, Israel's army was perilously outnumbered by opposing Syrian forces. Having lost a previous battle against Israel in the hills, the Syrians boasted that the Lord would be incapable of helping His people in the valleys. However, as God Himself proclaimed in 1 Kings 20:28, He was sovereign over both the hills and the valleys as He gave His people a mighty victory over their enemies and brought glory to Himself.

Like the Syrians, many people today harbor a similar attitude about God, limiting their perspectives of His love, provisions, and abilities to only certain times or situations in life. This is especially apparent in trials and temptations, where many are more willing to seek worldly solutions than place their faith in the Lord. Fortunately, as the Scriptures reveal, our God is sovereign and perfectly dependable in the valleys of life, as seen in these examples:

Jeremiah in the pit. In Jeremiah 38:6, Jeremiah was placed in a miry pit without food or water by Judah's corrupt leaders, who despised the prophet for sharing God's words of judgment to them. While Jeremiah's situation seemed hopeless, God provided rescue for him through Ebedmelech, who convinced the king to release the prophet and prevent him from starving to death. Likewise, God promises in Philippians 4:19 to provide for our every need. Thus, when we experience times of great need, we can trust in the Lord to faithfully provide for us as He did for Jeremiah.
Daniel in the lion's den. Daniel 6:16-17 sees the prophet in great peril as he was sealed in a den of ferocious lions. However, God used this moment for His glory as verses 20-23 reveal that He miraculously protected Daniel's life and revealed His faithfulness and power to King Darius. While we may never face a situation as perilous as Daniel's, Psalm 91 and Isaiah 51:17 tell of God' promises of physical and spiritual protection for His children. Thus, like Daniel, we can trust God for His protection as we serve Him.
The Apostle Paul in prison. In addition to the many things Paul suffered, he often found himself imprisoned for serving God. While it is natural to assume little good could come from such situations, God used Paul mightily in them, from inspiring him to write multiple epistles to bringing a jailor and his family to Christ. Likewise, when we experience trying times or difficult circumstances, God can use us for His glory, whether that be through bringing us closer to Him, using us to preach the Gospel, or demonstrating His power and providence through our example. Thus, as the Apostle Paul's prison experiences demonstrate, all circumstances we experience have a purpose in God's plan for our lives.

In both the hills and valleys of this life, God is sovereign and worthy of our faith, dependence, and worship. As the trials of the prophets and Apostles demonstrate, God's providence, protection, and plan for us remain constant in all circumstances and trials. No matter the situations, dangers, and trials that come our way, we can always cling to Gods promise in Deuteronomy 31:8 to never leave nor forsake us.

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