lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

~Psalm 121:1-2 ESV

The top of the mountain is where we want to live, but life is filled with mountaintop and valley living.

Life is not pie-in-the-sky by-and-by existence. Instead, it is lived on the mountaintop of God’s leading, a place where we live in God’s will, follow His direction, and trust Him. We love living there.

But God won’t let us stay here, no matter how much we would like to. We need the valleys. There, we learn to depend on God through the lessons He teaches us. 

Through the adversities we encounter in the valley, we learn to stand strong. We learn to lean on God and not give up when we are diagnosed with a serious illness or disease, lose a loved one, or have our world turned upside down. We also learn to trust Him when life gets too stressful, busy, or out of control. The valley is where we live most of our lives. The valley prepares us to live on the mountaintop.

On the mountaintop, we discern God’s direction. Here, we enjoy Jesus and build our relationship with Him. Studying His word and taking time to pray no longer seem to be things we just try to get through. Our Bible study and prayer become joyful as we learn to communicate with God out of thanksgiving and praise.

On the mountaintop, we learn to be ourselves. We no longer try to be someone we are not or hide behind a façade. We are no longer insecure in our testimony because we know no one can define who we are in Christ. Only God can do that. And He allows us the freedom to become who He created us to be.

On the mountaintop, we learn to love. When we finally realize just how much God loves us, we can reach out to others in love and service. We are His hands and feet. God has placed us here to be His ambassadors so we can draw others to Him through the love we show. On the mountaintop, we learn that regardless of what lies ahead, we are safe in Him. We can trust in Jesus alone. God is faithful, and He is good.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

~Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV

While on the mountain, God will show us how to live in the valley. He teaches us we cannot always live on the mountaintop because the valley is where we learn to live in the valley. Although we walk through difficult days, the mountaintop is where we learn the lessons that bring joy to the journey.

How have the mountaintops and valley impacted your walk with the Lord?

 Gracious God, I am grateful You love me enough to teach me about the joy in the journey. In the sweet name of Jesus, amen.

Genre: Non-Fiction

Copyright 2021: Mountaintop and Valley Living: Evelyn Mason Wells: All Rights Reserved