This is part 1 of 4 of Lesson 6. Click here to go back to the introduction to Lesson 6 Struggling With All Energy.
The lesson quarterly cites two ways we can get through our valley experiences – through worship and through hope.
Consider Job 1:20,21:
Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. And he said:
“ Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
And naked shall I return there.
The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away;
Blessed be the name of the LORD.” (NKJV)
The lesson provides some commentary on this:
In Job 1:20,21, we see three aspects of worship that may help when in anguish. First, Job accepts his helplessness and recognizes that he has no claim to anything: ” ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart’ ” (vs. 21, NIV). Second, Job acknowledges that God is still in total control: ” ‘The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away’ ” (vs. 21, NIV). Third, Job concludes by reasserting his belief in the righteousness of God. ” ‘May the name of the Lord be praised’” (vs. 21, NIV).
On the ’surviving through hope’ side of the equation, consider the apostle Paul’s experiences and how he responds (his list of woes is in 2 Corinthians 11:23-29):
We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we don’t give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going. Through suffering, these bodies of ours constantly share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. 2 Cor 4:8-10 (NLT)
I think we can add some other ways to get through the valley experience:
- through the experience of others who have gone through similar trials
- through the support of friends and family
- through remembering the way God has led us in the past
What do you think? How would you comfort someone going through a valley? Don’t forget that Job’s comforters were the best when they were just there crying with Job – it was only when they opened their mouth that their value quickly when downhill.
6 Comments
November 5, 2007 at 8:46 am
I recently have had a valley experience and struggled to forgive someone that was close to me, it was as if all I could see was their fault, how they had wronged and hurt me and that they needed to apologise to me. I was the ‘victim’, or so I believed.
Recently it was like I woke up and could see how even though the other may have wronged me, how wrong had I been in my reactions- holding on to unforgiveness, bitterness and anger and not taking my burden to Jesus who carries our griefs and sorrows. I infact was also in need of forgiveness from this other.
I guess what I am thinking is that sometimes if we could only see how wrong we have been, how we have sinned and that our sins caused the death of Christ- of God… the wrongs of others would seem to not be so grievous.
What is wonderful about this, is that it allows that other to be ‘let of the hook’ as such and allows us to feel the hurt and pain for what it is without falling into sin. I trully believe that it is at that point that we open ourselves to being healed from God.
November 5, 2007 at 10:48 pm
Well said. It looks like you’re living out Eph 4:32 “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”
November 5, 2007 at 11:06 pm
Support certainly comes in many forms, huh? I’ve certainly learnt that sometimes the best form of support is to simply say little (unlike Job’s friends!) and encourage through. To physically give the impression of being with someone on their journey speaks volumes when someone is in “a valley”.
The one huge reality check is being able to “let go” of emotional baggage when moving on from life’s trials. We are so quick to aportion blame, off-loading from ourselves any need to change the way we view a series of events.
wsda, you have me resonating a great deal!
November 9, 2007 at 9:18 am
It would appear then that we don’t necessarily have to go into some of the valley’s of life- sometimes we end up in them because we have let go of God’s hand and got lost. While on the other hand sometimes we are led through them for the purpose of refining our characters.
Perhaps though in the first instance, even though we can unecessarily go through a valley because of pride for instance, God lets us go through that period of darkness/hardship/trial because He knows that in the long run we will find grace and refining in turning back to Him. Sort of like a parent letting a child do something that may hurt themselves because it is the only way that the child will learn?
Caz Meddick
November 10, 2007 at 4:31 pm
Paul’s response to his trials is truly one of resilience… it is interesting that I was reading an article a little while ago about what makes some children cope with life’s hurdles (both big and small) and some children fall apart and have lifelong issues. The article indicated that recent studies have shown that the most important aspect of the child’s character was the ability to be resilient, or to “bounce back ” – so much so that they are now trying to organise strategies to teach children how to develop resilience (such as getting them to imagine what is the worst thing that can happen in a situation – such as putting in your homework late – and learning to place things in perspective).Paul’s experience in this regard really is the ultimate expression of what makes us resilient – knowing that God will never abandon us, nor stop loving us.
November 11, 2007 at 7:54 pm
Jen, that’s such an important point about the extent to which trials in childhood effect children- either to strengthen them or damage them because they don’t know how to cope.
If we can help our children to understand and react healthily to trials how much would this benefit them! I know that as a child I would often internalise the trials that I faced because I didn’t understand that they were apart of life. Perhaps as adults this can be the same dilema we face when we experience anxiety in the face of stress rather than peace and reassurance in that knowledge that God has us in His hand.
Caz Meddick