Life in the Valley

In the valley is where we're closest to our shepherd. If we always had mountain top experiences, we would drift away and eventually find ourselves lost.

The closer we become to our Shepherd, the more we know him. The more we know him, the more we love him.

Sometimes on the mountain, we forget who led us there. So, Jesus has to draw us back down into the valley. For our own good. For growth. To strengthen our walk with him, our Shepherd. 

In the valley is where we get our nourishment in the spirit. In the valley is not where we graze and live, but we pass through from time to time, when our spirit and soul need some refreshing. Even though it may seem like we're in a "low" place, if we'll set our sights a little higher, at the Shepherd's point of view, he knows best.

He knows it's in the valleys of our lives that we learn the most from him and about him. He knows it's in the valleys where we gain strength. He knows it's in the valleys where he can lead us beside the still waters and bring us peace. He knows it's in the valleys that we will draw near to him. He's our Shepherd and he cares for and loves his flock.

On the mountaintop, it's so easy to depend on ourselves and our own power because we don't "need" anything. God didn't create us to live within our own strength. He created us to fully lean on, depend on and trust in him. We are NOTHING without our Shepherd, Jesus. He is our leader, our guide, our friend, our EVERYTHING. Sometimes he just has to bring us back to the valley, by his side, to remember that.

How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.

Matthew 18:12‭-‬13 KJV