“Because the Arameans think the Lord is a god of the mountains and not a god of the valleys, I will deliver them……into your hands,” 1 Kings 20:28.

“Now the servants of the King of Aram said to him, ‘Their gods are the gods of the mountains, therefore they are stronger than we; but rather let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we will be stronger than they.’”

Do this thing: remove the kings, each from his place and put captains in their place, and muster an army like the army that you have lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot. Then we will fight against them in the plain, and surely we will be stronger than they. And he listened to their voice and did so.

At the turn of the year, Ben-hadad mustered the Arameans and went up to Aphek to fight against Israel. The sons of Israel….went to meet them; and…camped before them like two little flocks of goats, but the Arameans filled the country. (Have you ever felt like a small goat against an onslaught?)

Then the man of God came near and spoke to the king of Israel and said, “Thus says the Lord, because the Arameans have said, ‘The Lord is a god of the mountains, but He is not a god of the valleys’ therefore I will give all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the Lord.”

God had a surprise for the Arameans! He delivered them into the hand of Israel and there were 100,000 casualties in one day! The next day, 27,000 more were killed when a wall collapsed, and Ben-hadad fled!

We have all had our mountaintop experiences. We have had times of triumph, times of joy, times of refreshment, days when God was glorified, days when you were on the mountaintop with Jesus! There were times when everything was going well, great health, finances all in order, families and marriages were fine. There were times when you saw great blessing; people accepting Christ, prayer answered, marriages healed. I love those times!!

But, if the only time we can really praise God is when we’re on the mountain, then He must not be the God of the valleys! What about then the tough times come and you are down in the valley? People who don’t know Christ say, “well they are rejoicing when things go well, but it will be different when things go bad: poor health, lose a loved one, loss of a job.” The enemy likes to whisper, “He is only the God of the mountains, not the valleys, He doesn’t really love you!”

God allows believers to go through valleys at times to have their faith tested in the fire of difficulties. He might even lead us into the Valley of the shadow of death. We learn through our trials that He is the God of the Valleys. He plants us in His garden! He prunes us so we can bear more fruit. We truly learn who Jesus is in the Valley. It is there….in the Valley….that we are brought to a decision. Either God must come through for us or we will perish! We cannot do it ourselves! He has to walk with us through the valley! That is where our faith is developed!

“Will your anchor hold in the storms of life?”
Your friend, Jean