For thought and meditation

[rl69]

If You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us. MARK 9:22
After every time of exaltation, we are brought down with a sudden rush into things as they really are, where it is neither beautiful, poetic, nor thrilling. The height of the mountaintop is measured by the dismal drudgery of the valley, but it is in the valley that we have to live for the glory of God. We see His glory on the mountain, but we never live for His glory there. It is in the place of humiliation that we find our true worth to God— that is where our faithfulness is revealed. Most of us can do things if we are always at some heroic level of intensity, simply because of the natural selfishness of our own hearts. But God wants us to be at the drab everyday level, where we live in the valley according to our personal relationship with Him. Peter thought it would be a wonderful thing for them to remain on the mountain, but Jesus Christ took the disciples down from the mountain and into the valley, where the true meaning of the vision was explained (see Mark 9:5-6, Mark 9:14-23).
“If you can do anything….” It takes the valley of humiliation to remove the skepticism from us. Look back at your own experience and you will find that until you learned who Jesus really was, you were a skillful skeptic about His power. When you were on the mountaintop you could believe anything, but what about when you were faced with the facts of the valley? You may be able to give a testimony regarding your sanctification, but what about the thing that is a humiliation to you right now? The last time you were on the mountain with God, you saw that all the power in heaven and on earth belonged to Jesus— will you be skeptical now, simply because you are in the valley of humiliation?

[Wayne Smith]

Aaah Yes. It is in the 'dark and terrifying valley' (our son's translation of the line in the 23rd Psalm) that we really see what we are and what God is making of us.

[USMC87]

In the valley He is the same as the top of the mountain, Amen.

[Blackwater]

Great post! And it's very true. Where and when we usually fall short, or go astray, is when we're toodling along, nothing much going on around us, no big concerns, etc. Those are the times we most need to be on our guard, for if we're not constantly praying and on the watch, evil enters. It enters at every available opportunity, and it's tireless in this. We like to bask in the sunlight, but it can't last very long when we get those rare opportunities. It just can't. Too much is going on in the world, and too much is at stake for all concerned. So be careful when things are going "easy." That is often a sort of "trap" that satan lays for us, hoping to ensnare us as we drop our guard. if we aren't diligent after winning a battle, we may well find ourselves with MORE battles to fight due to our lack of diligence and commitment. Satan doesn't miss an opportunity to work his mischief! After all, he's supernatural too, remember?