Peace in the Valleys
True success in life is not measured by the occasional heroic deeds done, but rather by the patient, humble, day-to-day faithful performance of every day duties in the valleys of life.
Those that are truly successful in the material world are those who have obtained their wealth in an honest way, by diligent labour. Those who obtained their wealth by inheritance, by winning a lottery or by some dishonest scheme often don’t appreciate what they have and therefore don’t manage their goods wisely. They become more self-centered and hoard their wealth rather than freely giving as they see a need.
When my mother goes to work in the city, she occasionally sees some healthy, young people begging for money on the street. She never gives them any as she feels that they are healthy and capable of getting a decent job rather than looking for the easy way out by simply begging on the street. Welfare programs in the Western World were created for a good purpose, but often-dishonest recipients have abused them. It has led to some people becoming too lazy to work since they can get free money from the government.
Often those who perform heroic deeds in life are praised and raised up on a pedestal and sometimes even worshipped. Many times this has led to their downfall. I am reminded of Gideon. Before the Lord called him he was a very humble man. He was so unsure of himself that he had to ask the Lord twice for a sign to confirm the fact that he was really called to perform this heroic deed. After the victory, however, he did not descend into the valley of every day life very well. Gideon was faithful on the mountaintop but did not remain so faithful in the valley. The mountaintops are special times when the Lord asks for heroic deeds or special seasons of time alone with God. In those times alone, God is preparing us to be useful in every day life hi the valleys.
“But Gideon was betrayed into another error, which brought disaster upon his house and upon all Israel. The season of inactivity that succeeds a great struggle is often fraught with greater danger than is the period of conflict. To this danger Gideon was now exposed. A spirit of unrest was upon him. Hitherto he had been content to fulfill the directions given him from God; but now, instead of waiting for divine guidance, he began to plan for himself. When the armies of the Lord have gamed a signal victory, Satan will redouble his efforts to overthrow the work of God. Thus thoughts and plans were suggested to the mind of Gideon, by which the people of Israel were led astray.” PP, p. 555. Gideon decided to make himself a priest even though he was not from the lineage of Aaron. The people were happy to follow him after such a great victory. He had them bring him the gold taken from the Midianites and he made himself an ephod and breastplate similar to that of the high priest. This proved to be a snare to his family and for Israel. Many were led to forsake God and worship idols due to Gideon’s apostasy.
This was his downfall. From the mountaintop he fell into the valley. He fell quickly. The valley is not really a bad place to be. We can’t stay on the mountaintop forever. Is true success measured by those who are able to remain the longest on the top of the mountain without descending into the valley? No, at some point hi time we all must travel in the valleys and the valley is not a bad place to be, as I said, but rather it is our lifestyle in the valleys that shows how closely we are connected to Christ. True success is seen in those that are able to travel in the valleys of life, sometimes alone, with courage, strength and fortitude. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” Ps 23:4.
Often it is the case that those who perform heroic deeds and are having a mountain top experience, when they come back to the valley they get depressed. All come back to the valley at one time or another. Where do we find Elijah after his experience on Mt. Carmel? We see him fleeing for his life in the desert.
Those who are called to perform heroic deeds are on the mountaintop for these experiences. Sooner or later they have to come down and face life in the valleys. It is possible for everyone to have mountaintop experiences once in awhile, but they may not always be in the form of public heroic deeds for the Lord as hi the case of Elijah, Gideon or David. Sometimes they are very private; private times with the Lord when He gives special revelations for us personally or strength for helping others. Enoch is a good example. His mountain top experiences were very private. Also Elisha did not do some heroic deed like Elijah, however he was not any less successful as a prophet than was Elijah. He still had his mountaintop experiences with the Lord. Even though he did not have the privilege of being translated without seeing death, yet he will not be esteemed any less in the courts of heaven when he finally arrives there.
Usually at a conference time we all feel as though we are having a mountaintop experience. We feel on fire for the Lord from the messages we’ve heard and the fellowship we have had. We feel as though we could move mountains, the light of the truth is burning in our hearts. Yet we still must come down and face life in the valley. We must all return home after the conference and pick up our daily duties from where we left them off.
The speakers inspire some people but as the message fades from their memory so does the zeal. Some people are dependent on the other members of the church for strength and courage. While it is correct to gather to worship every Sabbath for fellowship with believers, sometimes we are called to stand alone in far distant lands. How will we then be able to stand? At some point in our Christian experience we must be able to depend totally on Christ, and while the fellowship will encourage us, we should be able to survive spiritually if it is removed.
We’ve all had times on top of the mountain and have seen things from God’s standpoint and I am sure we have wanted to stay on the mountaintop but God will never allow us to stay there. The true test in our spiritual life is our power to descend into the valley. If we had only power to climb the mountains but not to descend them something is wrong. It is a great thing to be on the mountaintop with God, but a man only gets there in order that afterwards he may get down among the sinners and help to lift them up. After a conference or revival meeting we should be able to travel life’s valleys with greater vigor and strength, seeking to help and benefit our fellow man.
ENOCH
Coming back to Enoch, Enoch is a good example for us. “He continued to exclude himself, at certain periods from all society. After remaining for a time among the people, laboring to benefit them by instruction and example, he would withdraw, to spend a season hi solitude, hungering and thirsting for that divine knowledge which God alone can impart.” Enoch had his private mountaintop times with Jesus and he came down to the valley, renewed in strength, to continue his labour. “Enoch became a preacher of righteousness, making known to the people what God had revealed to him… He was a fearless reprover of sin. While he preached the love of God hi Christ to the people of this time, and pleaded with them to forsake thek evil ways, he rebuked the prevailing iniquity and warned the men of his generation that judgment would surely be visited upon the transgressor.” PP, p. 86,87. We are not created to stay on the mountains, but rather for the valleys and how we manage hi the valleys will prove how close we are to God in reality. Some persons cannot cope in the valleys but only on the mountaintops. On the mountaintop you feel as though you could talk like angels. These times on the mountaintops are exceptional, they have an important place hi our lives with God, but we must beware lest we make those mountain top times the only time we commune with God. There is something hi man that always wants to do exceptional things for God; but we must not have this constant desire. We have to be faithful in the ordinary things and this is not easily learned. Many give up hi the valleys of their spiritual life but it is here that we prove our worth.
It is one thing to go through a crisis grandly but quite another thing to go through every day of life, glorifying God, when there is no one to watch, no limelight, no one paying the slightest attention to us. “But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what they right hand doeth:” Mat. 6:3.
The great hindrance in the spiritual life is that we look for the big things to do. Jesus is our perfect example. He did not turn away from the most humble duty. “He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.” John 13;4,5. What a rebuke this was to the disciples who thought the washing of feet beneath their dignity. Do not learn to live only for those moments of inspiration, learn to be faithful in the common duties of life.
“Be instant in season, out of season.” 2 Timothy 4:2.
THE MOTHER:
Often when we think of people walking hi the valleys we think of the mother who is at home day after day, performing the same duties that perhaps to some may seem as drudgery. Some mothers take thek duty to an extreme.
“In some families there is too much done. Neatness and order are essential to comfort, but these virtues should not be carried to such an extreme as to make life a period of unceasing drudgery and to render the inmates of the home miserable.” AH, p. 152. These mothers go overboard trying to make their valley look like a mountaintop. They lose lie spiritual blessing that God has for them since they are so busy with housework they have no time to read and study and gain a closer walk with the Lord. We have to allow God to give us mountaintop experiences and the greatest way we can receive them is by reading His Word and studying His will.
“The mother seldom appreciates her own work and frequently sets so low an estimate upon her labor that she regards it as domestic drudgery. She goes through the same round day after day, week after week, with no special marked results. She cannot tell at the close of the day the many little things she has accomplished. Placed beside her husband’s achievement, she feels that she has done nothing worth mentioning.” AH, p. 232.
Thus many women are led to complain and murmur, seeking for some kind of employment outside of the home to build their self-esteem. If this is thek sole purpose in working outside of home, then the motive is wrong. Mothers should have plenty of self-esteem while doing their duties faithfully at home. It may seem as though they are walking through the valleys day by day and while this is reality, they need not make it a dark valley. They can make it a bright and cheerful, peaceful valley. Although the routine may be the same day after day, with house cleaning, cooking, laundry, etc. there can be joy in this kind of service.
Life is what you make of it. You can decide to be happy or you can decide you don’t like what you have and are and miserably complain if there is no possibility of a change for the better. Even if there is a possibility for a change it may not be hi the best interest of the family. If at all possible, the wife and mother should be at home during the most impressionable years of a child’s life.
It has been said that happiness is a choice. You often can’t change your ckcumstances but you can change your attitude toward your ckcumstances by the grace of God.
“Many a home is made very unhappy by the useless repining of its mistress, who turns with distaste from the simple, homely tasks of her unpretending domestic life. She looks upon the cares and duties of her lot as hardships; and that which, through cheerfulness, might be made not only pleasant and interesting, but profitable, becomes the merest drudgery. She looks upon the slavery of her life with repugnance and imagines herself a martyr.
“It is true that the wheels of domestic machinery will not always run smoothly; there is much to try the patience and tax the strength. But while mothers are not responsible for their circumstances over which they have no control, it is useless to deny that circumstances make a great difference with mothers in their lifework. But their condemnation is when circumstances are allowed to rule and to subvert their principle, when they grow tired and unfaithful to their high trust and neglect their known duty.
“The wife and mother who nobly overcomes difficulties under which others sink for want of patience and fortitude to persevere not only becomes strong herself in doing her duty, but her experience in overcoming temptations and obstacles qualifies her to be an efficient help to others, both by words and example.” AH, p. 248. “Heavenly angels watch the care-worn mother, noting the burdens she carries day by day. Her name may not have been heard in the world, but it is written in the Lamb’s book of life.” MH, p. 377.
It all has to do with attitude as I mentioned earlier. Often these attitudes are learned behaviour from our parents. We are taught that certain types of work are not fun because we see our parents complain while performing these duties, so they must be unpleasant. I have met all kinds of children in my life. Some children simply detest any kind of work and grumble and complain when asked to do some work. Other children cheerfully comply with requests made to work. Going even further some children will do duties they see needing to be done, without being asked. What is it that makes the difference? I do not hesitate to say that these differing attitudes toward work often come from their mother. They see their mother’s attitude to her work and they copy her. Sister White was often heard singing as she did her domestic duties. Singing can do wonders in lifting your spirits when you feel a little down. Our children need to be trained to live effectively and happily in the valleys.
NECESSITY – NOT CHOICE
“One great reason why physical toil is looked down on is the slipshod, unthinking way hi which it is so often performed. It is done from necessity, not from choice. The worker puts no heart into it, and he neither preserves self-respect nor wins the respect of others.” Ed, p. 222.
Every duty done is not measured by the size of the duty, but the efficiency by which it is performed. “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might:” Eccl. 9:10.
“The labour of the hands should never degenerate into drudgery.” MH p. 239. “Many look upon labor as drudgery, and they try to obtain a livelihood by scheming rather than by honest toil. This desire to get a living without work opens the door to wretchedness and vice and crime almost without limit.” MH, p. 189.
Some work only because there is a job to be done, or because they are told to do something. This is not effectively walking hi the valley. The valley is a place of toil and hardship. The road to heaven is described as a straight and narrow road. We must choose to leave the world behind and walk that narrow road. We must choose to do any duty that we may see before us, whether in the home, on the job, or in the church. We do it because we want to do it. We want to be a help for others and we find great delight and pleasure hi helping others. We find our happiness hi bringing rays of sunshine and happiness to others.
MISSIONARY WORK
In missionary work the minister is looked up to and respected, but some measure his success by the number of souls he has brought to the faith. What about the lowly canvasser? Is he really lowly? “The intelligent, God-fearing, truth-loving canvasser should be respected; for he occupies a position equal to that of the gospel minister. Many of our young ministers and those who are fitting for the ministry would, if truly converted, do much good by working in the canvassing field.” T6, p. 321.
He is quietly scattering the seeds of truth like the “leaves of autumn”. One man plants and another waters, but the Lord gives the increase. All have their different talents and gifts -one is not more important than the other is. It is not the gift or the talent that is important but rather the use that has been made of that talent as seen in the parable of talents in Matthew 25:14-30.
“All who commune with God will find abundance of work to do for Him. Those who go forth in the spirit of the Master, seeking to reach souls with the truth, will not find the work of drawing souls to Christ a dull, uninteresting drudgery.” 9T, p. 118.
“Nothing is drudgery to the one who submits to the will of God. “Doing it unto the Lord” is a thought that throws a charm over whatever work God gives him to do.” 9T, p. 150.
“It is not the length of time we labor but our willingness and fidelity hi the work that makes it acceptable to God. In all our service a full surrender of self is demanded. The smallest duty done in sincerity and self-forgetfulness is more pleasing to God than the greatest work when marred with self-seeking. He looks to see how much of the spirit of Christ we cherish, and how much of the likeness of Christ our work reveals. He regards more the love and faithfulness with which we work than the amount we do.” COL, p. 402.
Often our work for souls is not appreciated, but that should not hinder us. “Careless spectators may not appreciate your work or see its importance. They, may think it a losing business, a life of thankless labor and self-sacrifice. But the servant of Jesus sees it hi the light shining from the cross. His sacrifices appear small hi comparison with those of the blessed Master, and he is glad to follow hi His steps. The success of his labor affords him the purest joy, and is the richest recompense for a life of patient toil.” T6, p. 340.
All that we do is written hi the Lamb’s book of life. He will call into strict account our time. How have we spent it? What have we done with our time, not necessarily our time at work, but our leisure time. With employment there is no choice to be made about time management, but with our leisure time there is. We hear it said, that “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” We can also say that with whom we spend our leisure hours, is who we love the most. Most people want then-leisure hours to themselves. They need time for themselves is the plea some make. While it is true that we have to come apart and rest awhile from our busy routine, it is not appropriate to spend all our leisure hours on ourselves only. Study ways to use your time for the Lord.
DON’T QUIT
Some can’t handle walking in the valleys and give up the straggle. They become discouraged and depressed. Without Christ this can easily happen. Yet, we must not give up. Sometimes in life things can seem monotonous or things can go all wrong. I am reminded of different forms of employment. Some are very tedious, like factory work, printing, secretarial work etc. The same duties are repeated day after day. I once heard someone say, “I could never do a job like that since it is so boring.” Perhaps this person could not, and if they did happen to have one of these jobs, they would quit due to boredom. Somebody has to do these jobs and to find a person who is willing to do these jobs and be cheerful about it may be hard, but there are people out there who are willing and able, Each has his own valley to walk in and each valley is different. We must not complain of our valley, nor should we deride someone in his or her own valley. The Lord is leading us each in our own valley, but we are all walking together on the straight and narrow road. The valley is our experience. If we stumble or fail, we must not give up. We must get up and go on. The Lord will help you. There are people who will do these jobs with a smile on then” face. These people have learned to walk in the valleys and faithfully perform their duties day by day. Each new day is not just another day at work, but another wonderful gift from God. What can we do for Him today?
I recently read an article about a man who loved to spend time hiking in nature. He often went to very remote and rugged areas to experience the beauty of nature. On one such expedition he had a serious accident. This accident resulted in him needing to have both legs amputated above the knee. He was really in the valley now. What would he do? Would he ever be able to go out into the wilderness again? He could have ended up living the rest of his life in despair, but he would not. He put forth his very best efforts in his physiotherapy sessions and practiced endlessly with his new prostheses. It was difficult work but he was determined. His determination paid off. He refused to give up and let this handicap prevent him from enjoying life. He has found ways to get out into the wilderness again and enjoy the beauty of nature.
When Israel was released from Babylonian captivity, they returned to Jerusalem with high hopes. They were walking on the mountaintops. After some time they settled into the routine of life in Jerusalem. There was much rebuilding and renovating to do. The mountaintop experience was gone as they settled into the valley of the routine of life in Jerusalem. After some time they had become discouraged at the condition of the city walls surrounding the city. They had given up hope of ever building the wall. That was until Nehemiah came along with a plan and he encouraged them with the idea that it could be done. Their spirits were encouraged and together they built the walls up again. Often the Lord will send someone to bring encouragement at the right time when we get discouraged hi our valley.
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Cor 15:58. Sometimes it may look as though there is little result from our work for the Lord, however we must never give up. Our efforts will never be in vain for the Lord. We may not know until we are in heaven, the results from our work so we must continue faithfully performing our duties now.
“And let us not be weary hi well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Gal. 6:9. Christians should never be weary of bearing the burdens of their fellow men. Such service, prompted by love, will never become monotonous. Jesus gave us an example in ministering to the needs of those around Him. Often He was tired and hi need of rest, but the people kept coming to Him with their sick and needy ones. He never told them to leave because He was too tired today. He was there for them – He met with them, He really loved them. It doesn’t matter when they came, whether it was morning, noon or night, or even the middle of the night as in the case of Nicodemus – He answered their needs. His own needs became subservient to the needs of the people that He loved so much.
Christian life is perseverance and persistence hi good works. No duty is wasted if it is done to the Lord. And no duty is of no significance or unimportant. All that is done for the Lord is recorded in the book of remembrance.
Although the Christian is motivated by love, rewards are still promised to him/her. Jesus compared the reward time to harvest time in Galatians. God has a specific time for the earth’s harvest. Those who sow good seed hi this life even though it may look as though the seed is wasted on inhospitable soil, they are promised recognition hi the great day of harvest. Then every man will receive his reward according to his works.
Only those who endure unto the end can expect to receive the promised reward. Too often hi the battle of life, many have fainted and given up the straggle. Overcome with temptation or disheartened hi the way, they have turned wearily from following Jesus. This has happened many times through out history, however there has always been a remnant who remained faithful. They kept on with the struggle throughout the most difficult circumstances. Many have had to face a martyr’s death hi order to have a clean conscience before God. Some have given up the faith when faced with death, but Jesus encourages us to be, “faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” Rev. 2:10.
We all have times when we feel at our best (on the mountaintop) and we say, “I feel as though I am ready for anything; if only I could be like this always!” This is not the Lord’s plan. Those mountaintop moments are moments of insight, which we have to remember during those times when we’re down hi the valley. We have to learn to be as diligent on the grey days as we are on the sunny days. Sometimes it is not easy; it takes great discipline, but it can be done. If we have Jesus abiding hi our hearts then we can keep the truth burning in our hearts even on the dull and dreary days with the commonplace duties and people. We can have sunshine in our hearts and we will have peace hi our valley.
Amen.