In the Valley He Restores My Soul.
by Gilly Mathiesen
All means just that! God can take even that which was intended by our adversary to defeat us and turn it around for our good and His glory. He is Lord of the valley just as much as Lord of the mountain.
Most of us have been in a valley at some time or other. Some of the most spectacular views I have experienced have been on a trip to Norway some years ago. Surveying the rich beauty of the Norwegian fjords, with waterfalls cascading down from great heights, was breath-taking. Travelling far up into the mountainous area from one of the fjords was equally as breath-taking, but I noticed the stark contrast the higher up we went, as there was increasingly less greenery or growth at the higher altitudes. Looking down in the valley, there was such lushness and nuances of green everywhere, and it extended out to meet the fjord in all its glory.
It is a beautiful illustration of our Christian walk. Growth doesn’t happen in the heights. It happens in the valley. Even though it can feel so difficult and hard at times, with us longing for the mountain top experiences, as the season in the valley drags on, the reality is we don’t grow on the heights. The mountain tops have a unique beauty, but that is not where growth takes place in us.
‘The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.’ (Psalm 23:1-4, NKJV).
He wants to lead us and restore us in the valley. There is nowhere we can go that His love cannot reach us and restore us. If you find yourself in a valley today, be encouraged that He is right there with you. He loves you and is already working all things together in your life, for His glory and your best.
Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to find You when I am in the valley, and help me know You are with me, even when the valley seems dark and I can’t sense Your presence. Thank You that You are the restorer of my soul, and You love me so much, that You are working the valley out for my good, as Your Word promises in Romans 8:28. Help me to keep my eyes on You and help me to keep trusting You with the outcome. Help me encourage others too, as they walk through their valleys. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Gilly Mathiesen Gilly has a heart to see broken lives healed. She got involved in Christian ministry at a young age, working as a missionary for some years, as well as teaching at a Christian school. She has been involved with Ellel Ministries for the past 10 years and trained and worked on the team in Northern Ireland before moving to Denmark in 2016. She and her husband Steen have been pioneering an Ellel work there since early 2018. They long to see people healed and set free to be all that God has designed them to be.
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