How should we respond when we find ourselves in the midst of difficult circumstances? How do we navigate through the challenging terrain of life, when our path winds downward into the valley, as inevitably it will?
We all love mountaintop experiences, the sweet smell of success, and the thrill of victory. When all is right in the world, and our joy is at its zenith, we long to cling to those seasons and would likely stay there forever if we could. But on this side of heaven, life offers us ups and downs, peaks and valleys.
Friends, I submit to you that how we navigate the valleys will determine the quality of the mountaintops. If you find yourself in the middle of a valley experience, difficult life circumstances, a hard and challenging season -Be encouraged! Because it is in the valley where you are formed, and strengthened and refined. And if you follow God’s lead in the process, you will emerge a stronger person and you will look more like Him by focusing on two things:
- Perspective Shift
“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4 NASB)
“Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” (Romans 5: 3-5 ESV)
Consider it all joy. That is a huge shift in the darkness, isn’t it?
We rejoice in our sufferings. How can this be? By focusing on the Lord, and the promise of hope that is built from proven character, which is derived from endurance, which is a product of suffering. It is a shift in focus and perspective that will help see us through. And here is the good news, God is the one who brings the transformation. All that is required of us is to listen to his voice, and persevere on his path.
- Resolve to Go Through
I am writing this memo in the midst of a lengthy and frustrating valley. It is a confusing and scary place. And there have been times where I have wanted to escape. And I could have, we all can to a degree. We can hide ourselves from pain, we can find escapes and ways to anesthetize and become numb so that we just can’t feel anymore, right? And depending on the circumstances, we could strike our camp and move somewhere else: Move out of a relationship, move to another job, move on to another church, remove ourselves from the situation. But is that the right decision? How do we navigate the valley?
What does James write in the very next paragraph, after telling us to consider it all joy?
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” (James 5:5 ESV)
Ask your Heavenly Father what to do. Ask him whether he wants you to get out, or to go through. Let Jesus be our model, that is how he approached his trial, saying “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Yet not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42)
Ask God, and be humble to accept the answer. When I asked him about my situation, crying out to him, asking for advice, his answer was very clear: The way is through. So, it is my job to stay present in the circumstances, and I trust that he will lead the way and provide all I need for the journey.
Be encouraged! The Lord will strengthen and guide you; he will be a lamp unto your feet in the valley. Stay the course. Follow His lead. And let endurance have its perfect result.
And that’s the mid-week memo.
Michael Kurtz.
