Book Excerpt

"You Don't Find Water On The Mountaintop"

From Chapter 7 - Peace In The Valley
by Wayne Monbleau

I used to assume that being in a valley was the same as being in failure, but I now believe valleys are nothing less than opportunities for God to reveal His goodness to us in a tender and intimate way. The difference between a miserable valley and a pleasant valley is whether or not we are willing to drink from the springs of God in them.

To me, this is the spring - consciously depending on and drinking in the lovingkindness of the Lord in those dark moments. David once wrote, "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for Thou art with me." (Psalm 23:4). Sometimes that's the whole point of being in a particular valley, that we might realize God's presence with us.

As a young believer experiencing his first few valleys, I gradually came to realize that much of my rebuking the devil and confessing the Word had more to do with a denial of reality than a faith in God. As I grew in the Lord, I learned more and more how to, as Paul said, "be content in whatever circumstances I am" (Phil. 4:11). However, even though I was developing more of a consciousness of Jesus Christ with me in the valley, I would still dread the next valley that might come along, so I still wasn't getting the point.

Today, in my walk with the Lord, I'm simply at peace with God - whether I'm in the valley or on the mountain. If I've just come out of a valley, I rejoice in that time of peace, but I'm not chewing my fingernails worrying about when the next valley might come along.

The mountaintops are beautiful, but I've discovered the valleys are beautiful too, because God sends forth springs in the valleys - springs of living water. There's something about being on the mountain that makes us think we've had something to do with it. But when God's hand feeds us in the valley, we know it's all His doing. That alone is a tremendous revelation.

The Scripture says God has commanded that "Light shall shine out of darkness" (2 Cor. 4:6). Sometimes it's not until we're in the valley of intense darkness that we are finally able to see the light of God shining. If life is easy, we might not see God's light because, in a way, there's light all around us. But go into a time of darkness, and we'll find ourselves able to keep our eyes on the light of God like never before. There's nothing like being in the dark to make us truly appreciate God's light.

I believe both valleys and mountains are needed in our lives. I don't go looking for the valleys, but they do have a habit of showing up. I don't rebuke them, condemn them, run from them, or deny them anymore. I am content to know that "The Lord will accomplish what concerns me"- a great promise from the Scriptures (Psalm 138:8).

So, whether you are on the mountain or in the valley, I encourage you to rejoice and rest in Him. If you're on a' mountaintop, thank God for the view. If you're in the valley, thank God for the spring He's sending forth. Either way, you're a blessed person because God is taking every experience in your life and using it to draw you to Himself and to bring you into a greater awareness of His power, presence, and wholeness at work on your behalf.