By Deborah Lovett

God has other objectives for bringing difficulties into our lives. Building our trust is a reward for our willingness to be obedient. Also, He uses our trials to showcase His glory, His miracles, and His love. Life comes from death, and difficulties cause us to die a little bit to ourselves, that is, to trust less in our own wisdom and strength and trust more in God’s character and power. Since Christ is our example, why wouldn’t we be asked to suffer once in a while? Isn’t that what makes us take up our cross and follow Him?

Christian apologist and author C. S. Lewis said, “God cannot use a man (or woman) greatly, until He has wounded him deeply.” When I experience severe trials, I sometimes wonder what's wrong with me. I think to myself, "Maybe I’m not trying hard enough or trying too hard, or maybe I’m not good enough,” or I wonder, "Perhaps I’ve done something wrong, and I don't even know it. Maybe I’m being attacked by the enemy, or maybe both." Can you relate to these kinds of mental and spiritual gymnastics? But if I think about it long enough, I know better. I have faith that God knows right where I am, and He will provide the grace to get me through. Do you believe that today in your present circumstances? It makes all the difference in the world!

The waterman told me about a process called “reverse osmosis.” I thought to myself, “That’s it! Reverse the bad, and keep the good!” It’s so important to run our thoughts through the Well of Living Water—without telling God who we think He is and what we think we need. Instead, we can focus on knowing Who He is, focusing our minds on the truth of His Word, and asking Him for what we know is His will. Things don’t always appear as they really are. We live in a tangible world, but the unseen, intangible world is just as real. We need spiritual eyes to see the unseen. Let’s be good stewards of the Word of God by asking Him to show us the Truth and to expose the lies in our minds and hearts.

Don’t put God in a box today. Valleys are just as much a part of God’s plan as the mountaintops.

• Without the valleys, we wouldn’t appreciate the mountaintops.

• Without the valleys, we may not relate to other people who are having a difficult

• Without the valleys, we would have no empathy for what others are feeling.

• Without the valleys, we may not learn what the Lord wishes to teach us.

• Without the valleys, we can’t pass on what we learn to others.

• Without the valleys, we may see ourselves as perfect or above others.

• Without the valleys, we can’t work through some of our emotions and feelings.

• • Without the valley of death, God’s glory would never have been showcased through Jesus, who died so we could live! That’s what I call finding God in the valleys!