MOUNTAINS AND VALLEYS

If you look up the definition of mountain in a Webster's dictionary, this is what you will find.

Mountain

MOUNT'AIN, n. [L. adjective, montanus.] A large mass of earth and rock, rising above the common level of the earth or adjacent land, but of no definite altitude. We apply mountain to the largest eminences on the globe; but sometimes the word is used for a large hill. In general, mountain denotes an elevation higher and larger than a hill; as the Altaic mountains in Asia, the Alps in Switzerland, the Andes in South America,the Allegheny mountains in Virginia, the Catskill in New York, the White mountains in New Hampshire, and the Green mountains in Vermont. The word is applied to a single elevation, or to an extended range.
 If you apply this spiritually, it tells you "a place of elevation." We often talk about our mountains in life pertaining to a place of peace, triumph, and success. This is after a trial, or storm in life, or just something in life we are going through at any given time. This is the place in life we want to live, on a spiritual, or mental mountain.
When we are on this mountain, we can normally see things from a different perspective. We can see trials, and storms in life from the victory side of the situation. The view from the top of the mountain allows you to see all the valley you just came through. Your vision of the trial is so much more broad, because you can see the whole thing. Instead of looking from the inside out, we are looking from the outside in. When we are going through the storm, all we can see is where we are at that particular time. It is not meant for us to know the way out while we are there. We are supposed to give our lives, and situations to the Lord, and have faith that he will see us through it.
Gods word says he will help us and be with us and see us through. We may not be able to feel his presence at the time of our struggle, but he is there nonetheless. He does not leave us. If we get to a point where we lose the presence of God, he is probably where YOU LEFT HIM.
    1Sa 12:22 For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.

   Heb 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.


We seem to get to a place in our lives where we think we don't need him. We get to point where we only look for him when we are going through a storm. The truth is we need him all the time. I sometimes find myself, when everything is going good, not praying, reading his word, or spending time with Him the way I should. Then I instantly find myself having to deal with things that would not be a big deal if I was prayed up. It is better to be ready for the trial before I get to it, than to wait until it gets to me. I've always heard, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. That also applies here. That is not just a physical statement.
If you look back at the definition of a mountain it says,"a large mass of earth and rock that rises above the common level of earth or adjacent land. In Genesis it tells what we are made of.
Gen 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

 If we are made of the earth, maybe we should try to rise above the common level of earth around us. That is what God intends for us anyway. We are supposed to rise above, and be an example for him. If you read through the bible, everywhere God shows up is on the mountain. Let him show in us, and let us be mountains in a world of hills, and flat plains.
 Even if we are living a holy life, and doing all we should, we will still have trials,and struggles. Even in the bible it tells about trials on the mountain. Most of the time we like to believe if we are on the mountain we will not have struggles. That is not true.
 Gen 22:2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
 Abraham had a trial on the mountain when God told him to offer his son, but God showed up on that same mountain right on time. We are not promised a trouble free life. Actually the bible does say,
 Psa 34:19 " Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all."

 Valley
VAL'LEY, n. plu. valleys. [L. vallis. See Vale.]

1. A hollow or low tract of land between hills or mountains.

2. A low extended plain, usually alluvial, penetrated or washed by a river. The valley of the Connecticut is remarkable for its fertility and beauty.

Ye mountains, sink; ye valleys, rise; prepare the Lord his way.
3. In building, a gutter over the sleepers in the roof of a building.

 In the definitions we see it is a low place. When we get to the bottom, there are only two directions we can move, side to side,or up. If we move side to side, we are only wallering in the mud, or the problem in which we are in. We need to rise above our circumstances and take some authority over our situation. If we do not rise up we will never overcome the things that are against us.

The third definition tells us it is a gutter. Everyone knows what a gutter does. It carries trash off the peak of the higher surrounding. It is a channel for unwanted stuff.

As  much as we don't like the valleys, we have to have them. This is where we mature spiritually. Without the valleys, we are never tried. We would stay in one place forever if we never go into the valley. You cannot get from one mountain to the next without going through a valley every now and then, but we don't need to stay there. We should always have the right attitude about our location.

Php 4:11  "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
"1Ti 6:6  "But godliness with contentment is great gain."  

 What it is going to take to be content is prayer, and a relationship with our Lord. We cannot get ourselves out of things we cannot control, but we know who can. We have to talk to the storm maker to control the storm. He alone has all we need. If we are struggling with ANYTHING, he gives us strength.
Our attitude toward our situation controls alot of our coming through the storm. If we always grumble about where we are it will give us a negative attitude, and make things worse. We have to keep our site on the Lord.