We Need Valleys

Happy Friday, Friends!

I hope and trust this post finds you all having a great day as a glorious new day begins to dawn in my Sweet Home Alabama!

A couple of weeks ago, I was listening to a sermon, and a visual came to my mind. If we are standing there looking at the continuum of our lives, we see these “mountaintop” moments. But here is the thing: what do we have to do to go from one mountaintop to the next, higher mountaintop? We have to go down through a valley. For most of us, we love mountaintops, not so much valleys. But here is the thing: it is in the valleys where we grow the strength to climb to the next mountaintop.

A few thoughts:

1. Many choose to stay on their mountaintop because they don’t want to go through the valley; they don’t want to do what it takes to gain the tools necessary to climb the next, higher mountaintop. While these folks might not struggle to gain whatever they need to grow, they are also not fulfilling their potential. They have become complacent.
2. Few, if any, enjoy the valleys. Who among us says, "I want to struggle, I want things to be difficult," etc.? Not me! However, again, there is no other way to gain what we need to reach the next mountaintop. With this, I want to encourage us all to shift our perspective. Let’s lean into the difficult seasons, glean every lesson we can, and drain each day of its potential! While the struggle is real, we will eventually reach the next mountaintop if only we do not quit.
3. As I drew this out, I made the last arc ending on the way up – I did that on purpose. Wherever you are in life, I want to encourage us all: let’s make up our minds today to finish this beautiful journey on earth strong. We will not stop learning, growing, and striving to become all that we were created to become until we take our last breath!
4. When I was sharing all of this with a friend, he said, “There is one more thing.” He then pointed to a mountaintop and said, “The God here is the same God here,” then slowly moved his finger to a valley. Amen, Brother!

There is a beautiful song on Christian radio titled, “Meet Me In The Valley.” I would strongly encourage you to search for it and listen to it. Here are the lyrics:

"Meet Me In The Valley"
Writers: Meredith Andrews, Jacob Sooter, Keith Everette Smith, Tasha Layton

Performed by Tasha Layton 

You can't see grace for what it is
Until you need it most
You don't know what you really have
Until you lose it all

I've seen Your goodness
In the best, the worst
The joy, the hurt
Every loss and every win
So I'm calling out again

Meet me in the valley
I need you Lord
Be my shield
In the middle of the war
Tell me that I'll make it
When I'm not sure
You'll be faithful like You've been before
Meet me in the valley
Meet me in the valley
Meet me in the valley

If this is where the broken things
Are healed and brought to life
Then lead me through the wilderness
But keep me by Your side

I've seen Your hand at work
In the best, the worst, the joy, the hurt
Every tear that hit the ground
Is a testimony now

Meet me in the valley
I need you Lord
Be my shield
In the middle of the war
Tell me that I'll make it
When I'm not sure
You'll be faithful like You've been before
Meet me in the valley
Meet me in the valley
Meet me in the valley

What You said on the mountain
Is still true in the valley
Surely goodness and mercy will follow me, follow me
All You've said on the mountain
I'll believe in the valley
Surely goodness and mercy will follow me, follow me
Yeah
Oh
Meet me in this valley
Come meet me in this valley
I need you lord
I need you lord

Oh, yeah
Oh

Meet me in the valley
I need you Lord
Be my shield
In the middle of the war
Tell me that I'll make it
When I'm not sure
You'll be faithful
Oh You'll be faithful

To meet me in the valley
I need you Lord
Be my shield
In the middle of the war
Tell me that I'll make it
When I'm not sure
You'll be faithful like you've been before
Meet me in the valley
Oh
Come meet me in this valley
Oh

Oh You'll meet me in this valley

Friends, let’s relentlessly pursue our purposes every day of our lives. Yes, we will absolutely go through valleys on the way there; however, who we become along the way and the view from the mountaintop will make it worth it!

Please feel free to contact me at any time if there is ever anything I can do for you or your family. I will always help you any way I can. You can reach me at kevin@whatwillyourinfluencebe.com.

Have a great day, a wonderful weekend, please cherish your precious family, please be kind, and please stay well!

Kev