Mountains & Valleys

^{I Kings 1:28 KJV}  “And there came a man of God, and spake unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus saith the Lord, Because the Syrians have said, The Lord is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I am the Lord.”

Israel defeated the Assyrians in war despite the odds against them. Not very long after the battle, a prophet came to Ahab and warned him of another attack by the Assyrians which would happen in the spring. The Assyrians worshiped man-made gods. The idea of worshiping one living God didn’t make sense to the Assyrians. Since the Israelites defeated the Assyrians on a mountain, they naturally thought the God of the Hebrews was only in the mountains. The Assyrians thought they could defeat the Hebrews if they could get them in the valley because they believed their God only lived on the mountain. God was very offended by the Assyrians attempt of “putting Him in a box” or labeling Him. The prophet informed Ahab, at the request of God, that the Hebrews would defeat the Assyrians once again in order to show the world that He is Lord.

You probably have heard the familiar phrase, “God on the mountain is still God in the valley”.  It’s almost a cliché  We say it and even sing it in church, but we forget the truth of this thought when times get tough. We naturally think God is good when things are going our way, but when they aren’t, we ask, “where is God, when I need Him?” Truth is, God is with us in both the mountains and the valleys of life.

There are so many mountain top experiences in the Bible; Moses crossing the red sea, Elijah when the fire reigned down from heaven, David killing Goliath the giant, Joshua at the battle of Jericho and the walls tumbling down, and Peter at Pentecost where thousands were saved.

There are also many valley experiences where we see God’s hand at work. God picked up the pieces after Adam and Eve sinned. God literally forced Lot out of the city of Sodom and Gomorrah before it was destroyed. God crafted a miraculous plan for Ruth’s life after her husband died. God took care of Jonah in the belly of the fish while teaching Him a lesson. Jesus had compassion on the woman at the well and gave her living water. God was with Paul in prison and extended him grace to endure. Paul even encouraged others while in that place.

God is with us in the big stuff and in the little things. He is everywhere, just being God, knowing, caring, working, and in total control like always.

3 Things to Remember When You Are in the Valley.

1. God is with you everywhere. God is on the mountain, in the valley, on the sea, in the fog, in the sunshine, in the daytime and in the nighttime. God created you and knows the details of your life. He is walking with you every step of the way.

2. Stick to the battle plan. Satan’s strategy is the same as the Assyrians. He wants to get you in a valley, where you feel weak and defeated. God’s battle plan is found in His Word. You must read it, meditate on it, apply it and fight the enemy with it.

3. Glorify God with your life. When you go through valleys in life, you will have heartaches. Times will be tough, and it may feel like the odds are against you. If you let God fight your battles, then He will be glorified. Your family, friends, and the world will know that He is Lord.

Yes, God is the God of the mountains and the valleys. Our life is made up of victories and losses but God is there through it all. Look to Him, lean on Him and glorify Him!