Valleys

God has been speaking to me a lot lately.  Not directly speaking to me like - in a low, rumbly voice - "Savannah, this is God," but speaking to me through people and things around me.

First was at church in the meet and greet with our Children's coordinators.  It was just a simple meeting to get to know all the ladies who take care and teach our little ones every Sunday.  They gave us a taste of what the kids' Sunday lessons look like.  We watched a video on Job, and the whole time, I'm thinking, "Oh my goodness, I feel like Job!"  Watching and listening intently to the adorable video of children portraying Job and the other characters, I was reminded of Job's perseverance and God's faithfulness.

I came back home and started reading from the book of Job again.  I read how Job was faithful, how he had the "perfect" life, and then how God allowed Satan to test his faith but not take his life.  I read how, all at once, everything was taken from him: his children, his animals, his home, his riches, his health.  And what did he do?  He tore off his robe, shaved his head and fell to the ground worshipping and saying, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I shall return there.  The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away.  Blessed be the name of the Lord."  (Job 1:21)

His wife even told him to to curse God.  Job's reply was simple, but hit me to the core.  "Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?"  (Job 2: 10)

We are going through a tough time right now in our life.  Throughout this whole ordeal, I have been praying and praying and praying, but praying that God would deliver us from this as quickly as possible.  But like Job said, should we accept the good, but not have enough faith in Him to take the bad as well?

And then on the way to the gym today, a song played on the radio.  Not a new song, but a very very very old song that I've known even before I knew my husband.  Ok, we're not that old.  But the lyrics penetrated me like it was my first time ever hearing it:  "I will go through the valley if you want me to." It's a beautiful song by Ginny Owens.  If you have time, listen here.

I feel like I have been walking through a dark and cold valley.  There seems to be no light and only mountains all around me.  You know how when you've been in a dark place for a while, when you do finally see the light again, it's so bright that it blinds you?  I believe that my God is faithful.  Even though I may be making my way through a valley of shadow right now, I know He is with me.  And after I make it through this valley and I climb all those mountains, I'm going to to see the sun.  I'm going to see the light and it's going to be brighter than I've ever seen it before in my entire life!  And I am going to scream and shout and thank God that He was with me through it all.

I look back at my life, my marriage, and through all the bad times, the times where I didn't even know what to pray for, I see that God has always brought us through everything.  He is faithful.  He is unfailing.  He has never failed us.  Even when we didn't know what to say or felt like what we wanted was impossible, God was faithful and He did the impossible.

Why?  Because He loves me.  So much so that he sent his Son to take my place on the cross.


So Lord, I will go through the valley if you want me to.

When you go through deep waters, I will be with you.

When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown.

When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.

For I am the Lord, your God,

you are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you.

~Isaiah 43:2-4