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Should the Valley Be Dreaded?
By Michael Alford Growing up Apostolic, I often heard older saints proclaim that they were going through a valley and needed prayer; God had put them in a dreaded place and they needed strength to come through the situation. I learned from these testimonies that one should never want to go through a valley in this Christian walk. My understanding was that the devil was in the valley and could come at you easier, while God, possibly, would leave you there indefinitely. I believe differently now. As I've grown older and gained some amount of wisdom from studying scripture, I can see that a valley has some positives. God allows some of us to visit valleys for a place of rest, peace, comfort, and strength. It could be a place to commune and listen to Him. In the valley, He restores our hearts, souls, and minds. I may even call a valley a spiritual vacation for some situations and times in life. There came a time in my life where I got busy doing the work of God and forgot about my relationship with Him. God decided to make a point and He took me into a place of renewal. I needed to find the peace, love, and joy that I once had in my life. So, a valley of restoration was the answer. Now, my relationship with the Lord continues to grow stronger every day. Perhaps the valley is negative to some because it is different from the day-to-day life we live. While we are going through a valley we have to realize that God knows exactly where we are and has not forgotten about us. When the apostle Peter was in jail, the saints held a prayer meeting for his deliverance and God answered their prayers. Peter showed up at the meeting, but they wouldn't even believe it was Peter. We can be like that sometimes. We can become absorbed in a situation, even pray about it earnestly. God can answer the prayer and we have trouble believing it. He carries us through some valleys and never puts more on us than we can bear. He shows us that we are there to be restored or to draw closer to Him where we will hear His voice. I don't want to feel that when I go through a valley it is just a dreaded place. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4) ninetyandnine.com
ã 2000, Michael Alford -------- Michael Alford has lived in California, Mississippi, Alabama, and more. He hopes to have found a permanent resting place in Tennessee. Have an opinion on an article? Let us know how you feel! Click feedback & fill us in.
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