Although this is a new post, this was written several months ago. I’m finally ready to share it.

“Even in the valley, God is good.” I tried my best to continue to remind myself of this for the past few weeks. The past few weeks have been really hard for me. I’ve had a lot of trials that have knocked me down. The only way I could describe it, without going into details, would be that I was sinking and drowning. I’d get my nose above water (figuratively of course) and then a few minutes later I’d get pushed back under the water. I kept trying to tell myself things like, “it’s just the devil working against me,” “everyone is going through a lot so suck it up,” “it’s just a few bad days.” As each day would go by, the further I fell. I would even say that I was knocking on the door of depression. I was hiding it really well from almost everyone.  

I had a minor breakthrough on a Friday night. My husband knew something was wrong and got me to talk about how I was feeling in detail. It helped, but I was still really struggling. I decided I was going to continue to hide it, fake my happiness, and go on with my day to day life- confiding in my husband as needed. On Sunday morning, God had a better plan. 

On the way to church I backslid. I got down in a huge way. I didn’t feel like talking, didn’t feel like smiling, laughing at any jokes anyone at church told, or even responding to questions in Sunday school- and trust me….that is NOT me. At this point, I was really not myself and I could feel it. I had just decided that it was going to be another bad day and that I’d fight through it like I had been. 

Before our preacher begins his sermon there is always a “special singing” by someone in our congregation. This particular Sunday it was a song that had a line that says, “Close to you, Lord I long to be. I surrender my burdens at your feet.” I thought to myself, “OK God… yea yea… I hear you,” but I shook it off.

When the sermon started, instead of following along and listening like I normally do, I started coloring on the church bulletin only halfway paying attention. I heard keywords and phrases- trials and tribulations, when you’re in a valley, etc. I knew then that the sermon was for me and that I needed to listen. 

Our preacher talked about how instead of Jonah drowning, he was saved by God in the way of “the great fish.” Remember how I said that I could only describe the way I felt was like I was sinking and drowning? God has a sense of humor, case in point, and knew how to get my attention. The preacher continued on to say that just because we are in a valley doesn’t mean we are being punished. Sometimes we go through our trials because He is perfecting us. Now I am FAR from being perfect, and God will ALWAYS have to work on me, but this sermon was an answered prayer of healing for me. 

I have been praying for several weeks for God to help me be the best mom/wife/teacher/friend/person/christian that I can possibly be. In fact, as of late, it’s my main prayer. When our preacher spoke during the sermon, he said, “Sometimes God is just helping us be the best we can be. He is perfecting us to be able to do His will.” WOW! Was this not exactly what I had been praying all along?

 All of these trials I had been in, well I am still going through, are really just answers to my prayer. I want to be the best I can possibly be so I can serve God and make Him proud.  I was reminded, by a dear friend, the next day of the potter and the clay in Jeremiah 18. Verses 3 and 4 say:

 “3 So I went down to the potter’s house and saw him working with clay at the wheel. 4 He was making a pot from clay. But there was something wrong with the pot. So the potter used that clay to make another pot. With his hands he shaped the pot the way he wanted it to be.” 

I am not molded yet for what God has planned for me. He is shaping me for my good to do His will. 

Verse 11 says:

11 “So, Jeremiah, say to the people of Judah and those who live in Jerusalem, ‘This is what the Lord says: I am the potter preparing troubles for you and making plans against you. So stop doing the evil things you are doing. Each person must change and start doing good.’ 

When I prayed to God to help me be the best mom/wife/teacher/friend/person/christian I can be, He said, “OK.” These trials that I have been going through are “troubles that have been prepared for me” to help me be the best that I can possibly be. 

Next time you are in a valley I encourage you to do what my preacher encouraged me to do. Don’t feel like it is God punishing you, our God does not seek to punish us. Instead, ask God what it is He is wanting you to do and be prepared to obey. 

Challenge 1: Make a playlist of worship songs. Play this playlist any time you feel discouraged, or feel as if you are in a valley.

Challenge 2: Pray for God to show you how you can better serve Him.

Scripture to read:

• Jeremiah 18
• Psalm 23
• Philippians 4:6-13
• James 1:2-8, 12