Walking Through the ValleysSample

After Moses spent four decades wandering in the desert as a shepherd, once more, he entered the palace in Egypt. Even though Moses delivered the message God instructed, Pharaoh didn’t listen. After ten plagues, Pharaoh finally relented, essentially saying, “Go! Take your people and get out of here.” This mass exodus meant they were free from centuries of slavery and oppression. You would think they would be ecstatic. But can you guess what happened when the firstobstacle hit?

But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”

Exodus 14:13-14 (NLT)

I love that sentence. Just stay calm. It’s three words that can be life-changing for us. The people looked around and saw their escape blocked by the Red Sea. They saw the Egyptian army coming in hot after them. They yelled at Moses. “How could you do this to us? We were better off in Egypt!” Moses saw the chaos around them, the people yelling at him and he said to the people, “Just stay calm.”

I don’t know about you, but that speaks to me. In my life, everything in me wants to make a way out of the valley as fast as possible. I want to panic and complain all the way through. I didn’t deserve this. Why did this happen? God, how could you! This isn’t fair. But I am learning to listen to those three little words. I am listening for the moments when God is reminding me to stay calm. I hear Him saying, “I’ve got this.” What I have begun to realize is there is a condition to how and when God will fight our battles. We are instructed to stay calm while He fights. As we rest, He carries the weight of our heavy feelings. If we want peace in our life, it means we have to trust that God is more than capable of taking on what’s in front of us.

Here is my conclusion—God is the same and unchanging. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8 (NLT) Therefore, If I believe God is the God of the mountain, then I must also believe He is the same God in the valleys. You are going to be okay. Stay calm. God has got this. Let me remind you today that God loves you and He is fighting for you. Take a deep breath and let that sink in. May you continue to discover the beauty of grace, healing, and wholeness God has for you. Remember that you don’t walk through the valley alone, God walks with you!

In The Valley Growth Questions

1. List the battles you are fighting on your own strength.
2. What step can you take this week to Just Stay Calm?

Take time today to pray, go on a prayer walk, or journal your thoughts. Ask God to help you stay calm. Ask Him to fill you with peace and to build trust in your heart to be confident that He is fighting your battles.

I hope this plan encouraged you. If you would like to go deeper, check out the book Walking Through The Valleys by Dave Choutka by visiting www.davechoutka.com