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NIV is used unless otherwise noted.



Traveling through Valleys

Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts
on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca,
they make it a place of springs…
Psalm 84:5-6


Dear Lord,
My journey with You has been my delight. You have been my companion, my wisdom, my joy…You have been my teacher and trainer. As my teacher, You have revealed to me Your character and ways. As my trainer, You have strengthened my faith and trust in You, Looking back, I realize that most often I grew in strength and knowledge of Your character and as You and I were traveling through valleys of difficulty.

As I traveled through the valley of grief, I came to know You as Comforter. As I traveled through the valley of difficult relationships, I experienced Your unfailing love. As I journeyed through the valley of the impossible, I learned to trust that with You all things are possible. (Matthew 19:26)

You used valleys to teach David aspects of Your character that he otherwise would not have known. As David defeated Goliath in the Valley of Elah, he came to know You as Lord Almighty. (I Samuel 17) As David passed through the valley of the shadow of death, he came to intimately know You as Shepherd. (Psalm 23) Later, as David stumbled into the valley of sin, he came to know You as Forgiver and Cleanser. (Psalm 51)

And so, Lord, if there are aspects of Your character that can only be revealed in the valleys, then lead me to the valleys. Use those valleys to refine me and make me more like You. Use those valleys to strengthen my knowledge of You, my faith in You, and my dependence upon You.

I have journeyed through some valleys with my eyes on the difficulty and have missed what You had to teach me. Help me not waste any valleys that lie ahead. Keep my eyes on You. Guard my heart from fear, doubt, and despair. Cause Your glory to shine to me, in me and through me.

Amen.

Jan Burkhart

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