I’ve been hiking in several locations. Got lost on Mount Beirstadt in Colorado. Saw seven states at the same time from a location on Lookout Mountain in Georgia. The mountain top experience is breathtaking and beautiful. But you can’t stay on the mountain top for long.
You know, everything grows well in the valley. Nothing really grows on the mountain top. The Valley is where things are well fed. It’s where the water is located. It’s where things mature.
The prophet Habakkuk reminds us in his story, during very difficult times, you embrace your valley. It may be painful. It may not be your first choice. But if you truly want to mature and grow in Christ, embrace your valley. The first two chapters of Habakkuk, he’s wrestling and embracing God. He’s got some questions. He’s heard all the incredible stories of how God came to the rescue and saved his people.
Habakkuk says he’s seen how God works. He’s heard the stories of God rescuing his people from Egypt and how he parted the Red Sea. He’s heard the stories of God providing manna and quail in the wilderness. He’s heard the stories of God providing water out of a rock. He knows God held true to his promise of giving Canaan to his people. The list goes on. God can do powerful, mighty, unbelievable things.
So, where is God in Habakkuk’s valley? Nothing is joyful or happy any more. There seems to be no silver lining in the the clouds that loom. There are no parties or sounds of laughter. God, do you see what’s going on? Do you see the pain of your people? I’ve heard of your awesomeness. Will you share that with us now? Please come to our rescue.
As you look around your story and our world, we could ask the same things. COVID-19 has locked down our planet. People have lost careers, jobs, income. Unemployment is high. American death toll is over 100K. Some of those in places of authority have abused that gift and people have been hurt because of it. The racial tension in our country is incredibly high, resulting in riots, damage, meanness, and hate. Children are dying on the African continent simply because they don’t have enough to eat. Nations bristle against one another because they cannot find peaceful ground. Civil war is out of control in the Middle East and Africa. We look around and wonder, what are we to do in this valley?
Like Habakkuk, we will wrestle and embrace. We wrestle with God asking and praying for solutions and positive outcomes. But we never let go of His hand. We continue to embrace almighty God. He still sits on his throne. We will remember and embrace the faithfulness of God. We believe that God is still good despite what is happening all around us.
If Habakkuk 1 is about wondering where God is and chapter 2 is waiting on God in your story, then chapter 3 is about the power of God in your life. Habakkuk looks a bad situation in the face, knowing it’s only going to get worse and says that the Lord is still on his throne and He is worthy of praise!
See, I get to enjoy God on the mount top but I get to know him in the valley. I praise him on the mountain top for the “what” in my life but I praise him in my valley for the “who” that He is. You cannot really have his power to move through your situation, your valley, your difficult story without the wondering and waiting. So, embrace your valley. Look it in the face and say, ‘My God is bigger.” God is building you. Continue to embrace but don’t let go of God. Wrestle and embrace. I love the mountain top but I grow in the valley.
May God surround you as the mountains surround Jerusalem. Blessings on your journey.