Mountain or Valley, Both!

It is easy to praise God when we are on top of the mountain, but do you praise Him in the valleys too? He is the same God and deserves the same praise. When we are on the mountain and our stomachs are full, our debts are few, and our families are healthy probably most don’t praise Him. For sure when we visit the valleys of our lives, and we will some day, for Jesus said we will in John 16:33, it is hard to be praising Him but we should for He is God of our ups and downs.

The God’s Love Outreach Ministry was called into the valleys of people’s lives so many times. For one hour being a part of they’re hurting, they’re confusion and they’re searching for peace in their lives, all valleys for sure. On Monday I was at a Convent where a Seeds for Christ program is normally presented to 10+ Sister’s that have dedicated their lives to Christ. But this time, only a handful, due to so much sickness there. Are these Sister’s praising God in their sickness, I would say yes, you would be hearing their voices ring out from the valley. They love God that much. When you love Him like that you then realize it is all about Him! The Activity person asked me to keep them in my prayers.

One day a few years ago I went to church with a very heavy heart. I was spending time in a valley. I was so confused I didn’t even realize how bad the weather was and the church was closed because of wintry conditions. Very seldom churches close but if it may cause some people to have unnecessary problems it is done. On this day I walked to church because I knew I had to be there. The weather was bad but I didn’t pay it much attention. When I got there the door was locked but I had a key, because of being an elder.

As I sat there I just prayed, and prayed and prayed. My burden was being lifted from me. I picked up a Bible from the pews and started to read the book of Job. If you ever think, “woe is me”, I recommend you read Job but leave yourself enough time for Job had problems. It was truly a valley he was in, deep valley! In the very first chapter, Job 1:1 it states, There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job. And that man was perfect and upright, and one who feared God and turned aside from evil. That spoke well of Job. In verse six is where satan enters the picture. Satan tried to tell God that Job would curse Him. God told satan all that Job had was under satan’s power but he couldn’t harm Job. Well this was the start of Job’s valley but after you read all 42 chapters you will find Job stayed perfect and upright throughout the valley, even through everything he lost, everything.

So as I was in the church that Sunday I picked up a pew hymnal and started singing praises to my Lord and Savior. I was there for 1½ hours and walked out understanding the God of the mountains is still God of the valleys. So the answer is in the pudding as they say, Job 42:12 And Jehovah blessed the latter days of Job more than the beginning.

This is a poem that the Lord blessed me with when I was thinking of the many wounded people that the God’s Love Outreach Ministry, His ministry, ministers to, that seem as though they just can’t get out of the valley they are now in.

Please, help Lord!

I need your help today Lord,
for it seems I can't go on.
Everything in my life today
appears to be all wrong.

The beauty that you created for me,
my eyes are failing to see.
There is disease through out my body Lord,
that is slowly killing me.

My smile seldom appears now,
over taken by grief and pain.
My spirit is slowly being broken,
Lord, please touch my heart again.

May my focus always be on you Lord,
so my problems seem far away.
Thank you for this time Lord
Yes, I need your help today….

E. P. Shagott

From God’s heart, to mine, to yours!

Ed Shagott