Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. As they go through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion. Psalm 84:5-7
For years, it has fascinated me in terms of getting “down in deep” and discovering the hidden nuggets of what David was speaking about in regards to the valley of Baca; the valley which is known as the valley of weeping, or the valley of tears and also, the valley of strength. All of which spoke to my heart and my curiosity, however, I’m sure you have experienced times when the Lord has given a topic or thought that is not for that moment but for such a time when needed. Can I tell you that now is the appointed time of need? The time of revelation and how this valley relates to the journey of my life has come up for evaluation.
While reading various versions of this scripture, I came across the word, pilgrimage. As I began searching for a definition, there was one very clear and concise understanding that was befitting for today. It is simple and to the point: the journey or the course of life on earth. This definition made everything come together and the wheels begin to turn. So, while meditating on the journey or the course of my own life, I suddenly understood and realized it was necessary to pass through this particular valley, this valley of Baca. It is a place where you come to know the Lord in a very real and intimate way; me, the girl who can tell you that as a matter of fact, she knows the Lord intimately and has a personal relationship with Him. Well, although that may be true, God had plans for a journey to a land where He’d show me (Gen 12:1-3) and it would all be significant, as well as noteworthy to my growth, confidence, maturity, strengthening, and faith levels (Rom 8:28). He kept confirming through His word, even in this New Year, that He and He alone knows the thoughts that He thinks towards me, thoughts of peace and not of evil to give me an expected end (Jeremiah 29:11).
This journey of life involves deeper spiritual lessons than we can fathom; lessons that go far beyond what the natural mind can comprehend or what the physical eye can see. It also includes a journey of individual and unique valley experiences for that which is to come; yet necessary for the work that He has prepared for us. Lessons that may seem crazy to you and especially others who have no concept as to what God is trying to do. There are not enough words to describe the more intimate the relationship will become when we have been walking the valley.
David said, “Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion or whose heart is the ways of them as they go through the Valley of Baca.” In the valley is the place where we begin to see God in all of his glory, how He steps in and intervenes on our behalf with His favor and His love. Even when we are unsure, have no understanding, and we have zero visibility, He keeps us; through the fatal distractions, He keeps us. He carries us from strength to strength; from faith to faith; from grace to grace, from blessing to blessing as we walk the valley. We have to keep in mind that we are not operating in our own strength, but in His strength. He will bring us through triumphantly if we continue with a thirst for righteousness, a heart and a mind to persevere. It is in our obedience that we see God move on our behalf. It is then that the refreshing rain will come and fill our need; a refreshing that will bring us to a place of renewal, restoration, and redirection. It’s our valley experiences that make us regroup, rethink, and reevaluate what God has purposed for our lives.
Will there be tears? Oh yes, lots of tears, lots of weeping and crying out to the Lord. Will there be some sadness, doubt and anxieties? Absolutely! Are there are heartaches and disappointments? Yes, again. David experienced all of these emotions and wrote about them all in a psalm for our reading. David speaks to everything you can imagine and talks to God about it. He pours out his heart, then he thanks, blesses, praises and worships the God of his salvation because he knows that he is not perfect man but serves a perfect, loving, just, and forgiving God. After we get out of our own way, our own way of thinking and rationalizing, it is in that time that we can begin to hear from God and get direction or redirection. Everything I experienced while walking the valley on this journey showed me where my trust and my strength lie. David tells us that there should be joy in dwelling with God in the midst of being uncomfortable; knowing that we are yet victorious in spite of the circumstances of life.
There have been many “aha moments” over the past two years of my life. It has been an interesting, yet necessary journey (I can say that now) of learning, gleaning and gathering up of all the usable parts; everything we pick up along the way helps us in some way for the molding, shaping, and making of us, but not all of it is fit for use. Some of it will have to be discarded only because it profits you nothing although it was a part of the valley process. Because of the valley, the Lord has given me a greater joy, a greater confidence, a renewed strength, and faith to move mountains; showing me that every provision and every promise is of God. What amazes me the most is how I came to have a more conscious awareness of His word, a word that is not only essential but vital for me to "learn" the word of God; not just read it or quote it or study it, but He intended for us to have a working applicable knowledge in order to rightly divide and distribute it accordingly. Talk about getting down in deep in it!
I’ll leave this passage for thought. David says, “the righteous shall see it and rejoice. Who so is wise shall observe these things even they shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord.” (Psalm 107:42-43)
I praise God for loving me and allowing me to be found walking the valley.
Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde
For years, it has fascinated me in terms of getting “down in deep” and discovering the hidden nuggets of what David was speaking about in regards to the valley of Baca; the valley which is known as the valley of weeping, or the valley of tears and also, the valley of strength. All of which spoke to my heart and my curiosity, however, I’m sure you have experienced times when the Lord has given a topic or thought that is not for that moment but for such a time when needed. Can I tell you that now is the appointed time of need? The time of revelation and how this valley relates to the journey of my life has come up for evaluation.
While reading various versions of this scripture, I came across the word, pilgrimage. As I began searching for a definition, there was one very clear and concise understanding that was befitting for today. It is simple and to the point: the journey or the course of life on earth. This definition made everything come together and the wheels begin to turn. So, while meditating on the journey or the course of my own life, I suddenly understood and realized it was necessary to pass through this particular valley, this valley of Baca. It is a place where you come to know the Lord in a very real and intimate way; me, the girl who can tell you that as a matter of fact, she knows the Lord intimately and has a personal relationship with Him. Well, although that may be true, God had plans for a journey to a land where He’d show me (Gen 12:1-3) and it would all be significant, as well as noteworthy to my growth, confidence, maturity, strengthening, and faith levels (Rom 8:28). He kept confirming through His word, even in this New Year, that He and He alone knows the thoughts that He thinks towards me, thoughts of peace and not of evil to give me an expected end (Jeremiah 29:11).
This journey of life involves deeper spiritual lessons than we can fathom; lessons that go far beyond what the natural mind can comprehend or what the physical eye can see. It also includes a journey of individual and unique valley experiences for that which is to come; yet necessary for the work that He has prepared for us. Lessons that may seem crazy to you and especially others who have no concept as to what God is trying to do. There are not enough words to describe the more intimate the relationship will become when we have been walking the valley.
David said, “Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion or whose heart is the ways of them as they go through the Valley of Baca.” In the valley is the place where we begin to see God in all of his glory, how He steps in and intervenes on our behalf with His favor and His love. Even when we are unsure, have no understanding, and we have zero visibility, He keeps us; through the fatal distractions, He keeps us. He carries us from strength to strength; from faith to faith; from grace to grace, from blessing to blessing as we walk the valley. We have to keep in mind that we are not operating in our own strength, but in His strength. He will bring us through triumphantly if we continue with a thirst for righteousness, a heart and a mind to persevere. It is in our obedience that we see God move on our behalf. It is then that the refreshing rain will come and fill our need; a refreshing that will bring us to a place of renewal, restoration, and redirection. It’s our valley experiences that make us regroup, rethink, and reevaluate what God has purposed for our lives.
Will there be tears? Oh yes, lots of tears, lots of weeping and crying out to the Lord. Will there be some sadness, doubt and anxieties? Absolutely! Are there are heartaches and disappointments? Yes, again. David experienced all of these emotions and wrote about them all in a psalm for our reading. David speaks to everything you can imagine and talks to God about it. He pours out his heart, then he thanks, blesses, praises and worships the God of his salvation because he knows that he is not perfect man but serves a perfect, loving, just, and forgiving God. After we get out of our own way, our own way of thinking and rationalizing, it is in that time that we can begin to hear from God and get direction or redirection. Everything I experienced while walking the valley on this journey showed me where my trust and my strength lie. David tells us that there should be joy in dwelling with God in the midst of being uncomfortable; knowing that we are yet victorious in spite of the circumstances of life.
There have been many “aha moments” over the past two years of my life. It has been an interesting, yet necessary journey (I can say that now) of learning, gleaning and gathering up of all the usable parts; everything we pick up along the way helps us in some way for the molding, shaping, and making of us, but not all of it is fit for use. Some of it will have to be discarded only because it profits you nothing although it was a part of the valley process. Because of the valley, the Lord has given me a greater joy, a greater confidence, a renewed strength, and faith to move mountains; showing me that every provision and every promise is of God. What amazes me the most is how I came to have a more conscious awareness of His word, a word that is not only essential but vital for me to "learn" the word of God; not just read it or quote it or study it, but He intended for us to have a working applicable knowledge in order to rightly divide and distribute it accordingly. Talk about getting down in deep in it!
I’ll leave this passage for thought. David says, “the righteous shall see it and rejoice. Who so is wise shall observe these things even they shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord.” (Psalm 107:42-43)
I praise God for loving me and allowing me to be found walking the valley.
Until the morning, be blessed,
Cynde
|
