The voice of the one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God. Luke 3:4-6

A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken. Isaiah 40:3-5

There are slight differences in these texts. However, John was still quoting the book of Isaiah. Often when share scripture and we don’t know the exact words or the address where to find them. I don’t have a great memory and I don’t remember every verse I have ever read. I have never even memorized an entire chapter of the word. I am not sure if it is a side effect of my epilepsy or if I am just not disciplined enough. Either way, I don’t feel and shame or condemnation for it. I know for a fact that If I am meant to remember something in the Word, the Holy Spirit will remind me . I know this because the word tells us this in John 14

“These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the helper, the Holy Spirit, whom my Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. – verse 25-26

I have had many conversations with women lately about biblical literacy. One thing that has not been pushed for women in the church, is biblical literacy. We have these events and conferences and they are great. I am not saying they are not. One thing I always take away is that I am fearfully and wonderfully made and chosen and a daughter of a king and fearless. While these things are true, what do I cling to when things are hard. What do I cling to when I am struggling to see how the Lord’s will is for my benefit? What do I cling to when my marriage is not peaceful? What do I cling to when motherhood is stressful but I know I should just be grateful? What do I cling to when I have stumbled and fallen and I am struggling to get up because I cant bring myself to look up and see my Fathers hand reaching out to pull me back up. Knowing that I am a daughter of a king or fearfully and wonderfully made or chosen, does not always fill me up. Sometimes I need the hard truths to fill me up. Sometimes I need to know that I am walking in disobedience. Sometimes I need to know that I have unrepented sin holding me back. Sometimes I need to forgive hurt that others have caused. I learn these thing by being in the word. I listened to a song recently that said, “No body gives you a book with all the answers to life”. That’s a lie. The fact is that we often don’t like to open the book and find the answer.

In the past, I have had years, months, days, even hours of living in valleys. I think everyone reading this can think of a time in their life that they were living in a valley. I know that mental and physical health can be one of the first things to pull us into a valley.

I recently went camping with three spiritual families. It was amazing. While camping we went hiking at the Talimena State Park, in Oklahoma. I recommend hiking here to anyone! While driving (I was a passenger) through the area I would be texting and using the GPS. Every time we would drive through a valley I would lose service and be unable to contact the other vehicles or see the map on the GPS. This made a few difficulties and wrong turns… but we kept going. We eventually made it to our destination. It made for an interesting drive and we saw things we would not have seen had we been able to see the map; including a meat market with a massage parlor inside. Yep. That’s right.

A valley is not always as blissful as the one we drove through. More often it is a hard struggle that tries to shake our faith and hope. Bad health diagnosis with no hope in sight is often one of the bigger struggles. Losing my dear friend to Jesus after a long battle with cancer chained me in a valley for a while. Losing a child, parent or friend can keep us focused on our loss and not God’s gain. Anxiety and depression can make us feel far from God’s ear because we can struggle to lift our voice to him.

I once read a devotional from Charles Spurgeon that talked about ways that we fight to get out of valleys. One thing was; Low and groveling thoughts of God must be raised. The idea that God can’t help us or doesn’t love us; has to be removed from our brain. The respect and acceptance of his will in our life and other’s has to be carefully considered always. Doubt and despair must be removed. This idea of “woe me” can be changed by meditating on the trials and persecution of Jesus and his disciples. We can look to 1 peter and take heart knowing that God knew there would be trials and it is all temporary. I am not saying that anxiety and depression or grief disappear, but it makes the climb out easier when we are looking up. Self-seeking has to be forsaken. Giving up our will and desires for his, is hard but a worthy task. Grace must be raised. When we are frustrated with our children, our spouse, other believers, non-believers… are we really giving them the grace God has given us? Or are we allowing out lack of grace to keep us in chains of unforgiveness while living in a state of unhumility of our own actions?

I pray this finds you well and not in a valley. If it finds you in a valley, I hope you find it timely.

Grace & Peace.

Chorley