Anybody else in a valley?

BigWaylon

BigWaylon

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I’ve been on the mountain tops, and I’ve been in the valleys. Currently in the deepest valley I’ve experienced.

In case anybody else is down here with me, here’s a trio of songs that may help. The first one has been on the radio lately and just hits deep for me with the simple message: on my best day, I’m a child of God…and on my worst day, I’m still a child of God. Praise the Lord for that.



(These next two were part of our service this morning)

And even in the valley, His Presence is visible…



No matter what you’re going through…there’s Power in His Name.

 
We all have battles we are fighting.
One thing that has pulled me through one of the lowest and hardest times of my life to date...but it is still a struggle.
There may be one set if footprints on the path you are walking that you can see, but there are really two sets. God is with you and walking every step you take. He has your back and through the hardest times he is always with you.
You are always a child of God.
 
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yes sir. But I gotta say, looking back, my time in the deepest parts of the valley was one of the sweetest times of my life.
So I honestly don't think we were made for the "mountain top" and the valley is where we have the ability to thrive and come alive.
My prayer, for all of us, is that the refinement process produces and solidifies an amazing part of you that would otherwise be hidden.
cliché as it is, remember that although we may be "in the dirt", it could be we are planted.... not buried.
 
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Reach out to God Brother. I don't know what you're going through but you can believe God does and Loves you. Also there are plenty of folks on this forum that will be glad to help get through this time. In my prayers.
 
Man, this one hit the spot at 6:45a as I was driving a wash truck from Kannapolis to Lancaster…even mentions walking through the valley. Good stuff. So thankful that stations like K-LOVE exist.

 
I pretty much switched to all contemporary Christian music about 15 years ago...it was at a time when I was in a lowly place and discouraged for sure.
There is so much power in encouragement and positivity... in and through His Word!
 
BatteryOaksBilly said:
People are meant to work and Be Productive..this has got to be hard for you...You'll come out the other side Running!! Hold On!!
Click to expand...
Oh, don’t get me wrong…I’m working harder than I’ve ever worked. I feel that every night and again every morning. Matter of fact, I just received overtime pay this for the first time in over 20 years. 🤣

The job situation is just one of three major straws on the camel right now…
 
And let me say this…

I’ve received several PMs/texts offering a listening ear. I greatly appreciate that. I am grateful for anybody that takes a moment out of their day to pray for my family.

But I created this thread to let anybody else going through a valley know they’re not alone. I’m in a valley, a deep valley, but I’m not down for the count. I have a fantastic support system around me. A lot of people don’t. I can’t see the light at the moment, but I know it’s around the next corner, or maybe the one after that…or the one after that.
 
Let this line soak in…I think I’m gonna put this on a sticky on my bathroom mirror.

I may not know what a day may bring, but I know Who brings the day. 🙏🏻
 
Sometimes the only way through it is a Hallelujah!

 
This guy’s walking down a street when he falls in a hole. The walls are so steep he can’t get out. A doctor passes by, and the guy shouts up, “Hey you, can you help me out?” The doctor writes a prescription, throws it down in the hole and moves on. Then a priest comes along, and the guy shouts up, “Father, I’m down in this hole, can you help me out?” The priest writes out a prayer, throws it down in the hole and moves on. Then a friend walks by. “Hey Joe, it’s me, can you help me out?” And the friend jumps in the hole. Our guy says, “Are you stupid? Now we’re both down here.” The friend says, “Yeah, but I’ve been down here before, and I know the way out.”

There are many adaptations to this story... But I think about it often, especially when I find myself in the valleys.... But also on the mountains wondering when I will slide down the hillside..... Sometimes you are the person in the hole... Sometimes you are the friend.
 
I have a two-part word of encouragement for you today, both from our service this morning.

For the first part, all you good ol’ Baptists need to pick up your hymnal and turn to Hymn 320, Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus. I’ll help you out:

IMG_9317.jpeg

…and we’ll focus on the chorus:

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.

We haven’t used a hymnal in years, and I’m sure those words didn’t mean the same to me way back then as they do now. And I’ll also say they didn’t mean as much to me before service today as they did after the sermon included this illustration:

Many of us function like this. You have an iPhone, you’ve used one of those smartphones before that takes pictures. If I were to pull out my phone right now and take a picture of you fine folks right up front, here’s what would happen. You folks up front would be in focus, and the rest of you would be a relative blur. And that is how most of us are. We’re looking two feet in front of us and only seeing the immediate trial right before us, and everything in the distance is blurry. We know Heaven is behind the bend, we know that He is going to end the storm but we’re not seeing it and we’re not focused on it. We’re focused two feet in front of us.

But what happens if I take that phone and I change my focus from the front row to the back row? Two miraculous things happen. Not only is the back now in focus, but the front is no longer in focus. And by analogy, if you can get your eyes up and start focusing on the horizon, you can start living in light of eternity. You can get Heaven so to speak on your mind. Guess what will happen? The things of this world, as the song says, will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace. If you can fix your eyes on the horizon, all the immediate present trials of your storm will start to blur. It will lose its focus, and you will be fixated on what’s to come. And so remember, your suffering is never for nothing.


The sermon was titled Lessons In The Storm, from Mark 6:45-52.

Your Suffering is Never for Nothing.
  1. He's Planned It (6:45).
  2. He’s Present In It (6:46-48).
  3. He’s Purposed To Use It (6:48-50).
  4. He’s Promised To End It (6:51).
  5. He’s Patient Through It (6:52).
Here’s the whole service if anybody wants to watch/listen (the illustration is at 44:55):

www.youtube.com

8/13/23 | Full Service | Mallard Creek | 10AM

www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
 
The second part is the song Firm Foundation.

Christ is my firm foundation
The Rock on which I stand
When everything around me is shaking
I've never been more glad
That I put my faith in Jesus
'Cause He's never let me down
He's faithful through generations
So why would He fail now?
He won't
He won't

I've still got joy in chaos
I’ve got peace that makes no sense
So I won't be going under
I'm not held by my own strength
'Cause I build my life on Jesus
He's never let me down
He's faithful in еvery season
So why would He fail now?

Hе won't
He won't
He won't fail
He won't fail
He won't
No, no, no, no
He won't
He won't fail
He won't fail

Christ is my firm foundation
The Rock in which I stand
When everything around me is shaking
I've never been more glad
That I put my faith in Jesus
'Cause He's never let me down
He's faithful through generations
So why would He fail now?
He won't (Ayy)
He won't
He won't fail
He won't fail, no, no

Ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh
Rain came and wind blew
But my house was built on You
I'm safe with You
I'm gonna make it through
Rain came and wind blew
But my house was built on You
I'm safe with You
I'm gonna make it through
Oh, rain came and wind blew
But my house was built on You
And I'm safe with You
I'm gonna make it through
Yeah, I'm gonna make it through
'Cause I'm standing strong on You
Yeah, I'm gonna make it through
'Cause my house is built on You

Christ is my firm foundation
The Rock on which I stand
When everything around me is shaking
I've never been more glad
That I put my faith in Jesus
'Cause He's never let me down
He's faithful through generations
So why would He fail now?
He won't (Hey)
He won't
He won't fail
He won't fail

He won't
He won't
He won't fail
He won't fail
No, He won't

The song is at the very end of the service (1:05:45) I posted the link for above…but here’s the actual artist:

 
I was reminded this morning that: Where you are currently does not determine where you can go or what you can accomplish...
It merely reveals your starting point!
 
1075tech said:
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I miss hearing those old hymns.
Click to expand...
Go to 53:20 in our service. We usually sing a fairly recognizable version of a hymn as the sermon ends. It’s a stripped down version before the choir gets back on stage. Today was Nothing but the Blood of Jesus.
 
Deep in a valley is where I found my belief and thus my faith.It has been tested and strengthened in that familiar place from time to time. My valley is a bit of solitude if I stop and listen to it. God must want to teach me something.
 
Got in the truck today to head to this job that I’ve begun to despise…after learning earlier this week the job I was after went to somebody else. Turned on the radio and this song greeted me:

 
And then this one came on as I drove out to swap with a driver…

 
I know some of y’all have been praying for me, and I appreciate it. If you’d like something specific to pray for, pray for the current job opportunity I’m working on.

I had an initial interview with the company on Friday 8/18, and thought it went well. I was told they had a job they’d post in the next 2-3 weeks that seemed like a good opportunity. After hearing about it, it really does check all the boxes for me. And I think my experience should check all the boxes for them. Can’t have an official interview (believe me, I asked) until I have actually applied for the opening. So maybe that (job being posted) happens sometime between the end of this week and the end of next week?

ETA: contacted them today to see if they had an updated estimate as to when it would be posted, and was told it may be up to a month…so I continue to wait
 
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