When Mountains Meet Valleys | Monday
Devotional
Have you ever noticed how life can shift from celebration to crisis in what feels like an instant? One moment we’re experiencing God’s goodness, and the next we’re facing circumstances that leave us questioning everything. This dramatic transition isn’t uncommon in our faith journey.
In Luke 9, the disciples experienced this firsthand. They had just witnessed Jesus’ transfiguration – a mountaintop moment where they saw His divine glory revealed. But as they descended, they immediately encountered a desperate father pleading for his demon-possessed son. The celebration quickly turned to confrontation with real human suffering.
This pattern reflects our own lives. We have seasons of spiritual highs where God feels close and His presence is tangible. But inevitably, we face valleys where circumstances challenge our faith and leave us feeling desperate for divine intervention. These transitions can be jarring and disorienting.
Yet these valleys aren’t accidents or punishments. They’re part of God’s design for our spiritual growth. While it’s natural to prefer the mountaintops, the valleys serve crucial purposes in developing our faith. They reveal where our trust truly lies and force us to examine whether we’re depending on our own strength or on Christ alone.
The father in this passage represents all of us in our moments of desperation. His plea for Jesus to ‘look upon’ his only child echoes our own cries when we face overwhelming circumstances. In these moments, we discover that our desperate need for God isn’t a weakness – it’s exactly where He wants us to be.
Bible Verse
‘The next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met him. A man in the crowd called out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child.”‘ – Luke 9:37-38
Reflection Question
When you transition from spiritual highs to difficult circumstances, how do you typically respond, and what does this reveal about where your security truly rests?
Quote
The valley of desperation is not final.
Prayer
Lord, help me to see that both mountaintops and valleys are part of Your perfect plan for my life. When circumstances shift dramatically, anchor my heart in Your unchanging character rather than in my changing feelings or situations. Amen.