Back to the Valley

Recently we returned from our trip to Pennsylvania back to Florida. One of my favorite parts of that drive was the view as we descended into North Carolina. It may have looked a lot the same as the disciples came down from the mount of transfiguration. The truth however is that at the bottom of such a beautiful view lie our real life problems.

Instead of a home coming celebration, the first thing waiting for Peter, James and John in the valley was an embarrassing failure of faith. One father who had brought his son to the other disciples for help found out that Jesus’ followers were powerless his child. The harsh facts of suffering appeared to be greater than the prayers of God’s people.

But when Jesus came things changed. Jesus didn’t need a special meeting or even time to think up a solution. He simply said, “Bring him to Me.” When Jesus comes things change. Impossible problems find their answers.

Then Jesus answered … Bring him here to Me.” And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour. Matthew 17:17‭-‬18 NKJV

No matter what we are face to face with in life we can know that Jesus is also coming down into the valley for us. Unbearable circumstances will find release. Our hopeless hearts will receive help. And at the bottom of the valley of our struggles lie God’s answers to every one of our prayers!

Strength to the Powerless

Are you trusting or even just wishing for God’s help in some area your life this morning? Is it a broken relationship with a family member or the disabling shame of a past memory? God is not far off nor is He waiting for us to get smart enough or strong enough to get it right. In fact Isaiah tells us that it is quite the opposite.

I who am not so great or good at many things am hopeful at His promise. God has a lifeline prepared for folks just like me. He is not looking for someone to impress Him. He is not reserving a seat next to the throne for “important” people. He is simply waiting on us to come to the end of ourselves and find in Him all the strength anyone could ever hope for! What a wonderful God we serve!

Where is Your Hope?

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?        Psalm 27:1 NKJV

The drowning man was flailing in the waves just 100 yards from the beach. Two men ran up to the shoreline. The first on the scene was a business man who while passing by had heard the shouts and seeing the man going under he threw out 50 yards of line and shouted to the man, “that’s all I can afford. Swim for it!” The second man on the beach that day happened to be a politician listening to the commotion. He grandly stepped up with a smirk and threw 1000 yards of line toward the drowning man who was now going under for the second time. Then he dropped the rope and walked away shouting, “Somebody ought to grab that rope!”

Just as the man began to sink for the third time, Jesus came walking out on the waves, took the drowning man by the hand and whispered, “It is I, don’t be afraid!”

beach during daylight

Photo by Daniel Jurin on Pexels.com

Where is your hope today? Is it in your past success? Is your hope in what others think about you or what money you have in the bank? The Bible tells us that the only thing we can hold onto when everything and everyone is failing is our faith in Jesus Christ.