From Mountain High to Valley Low

Have you ever found yourself dancing on the mountain of victory only to have your legs knocked from under you a short time later? You have finally reached the pinnacle; happiness, contentment and peace are overwhelming your life.

You’ve struggled for this moment, gone through times of extreme difficulty but finally you have reached what you were aiming for. And then, WHAM! You find yourself tumbling back down into the valley of despair.

Elijah was on the mountain of victory. God had shown up in a powerful way and all the prophets of the foreign gods had been destroyed. The Scripture tells us: “Ahab told Jezebel everything that Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, ‘May the gods punish me and do so severely if I don’t make your life like the life of one of them by this time tomorrow!’” (1 Kings 19:1-2 HCSB).

Jezebel was infuriated and determined to destroy Elijah. “Then Elijah became afraid and immediately ran for his life” (v. 3). It’s amazing how quickly Elijah went from a dance of victory to running in fear for his life.

When he finally reached the valley of despair, “He sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die. He said, ‘I have had enough! Lord, take my life, for I’m no better than my fathers’” (v. 4).

You’ve been there as well! You know exactly what I’m talking about. Life was grand—until—the bottom fell out! The mountain top view was overwhelmingly beautiful but one little intrusion into your ideal world and you were sliding rapidly back down into the valley of utter despair.

Elijah began to throw a pity party for himself. He wanted out. He just wanted to die! But the Lord came to him and asked him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (v. 9). What are you doing groveling around in despair?

Elijah responded by recounting how faithful he had been while everybody else was being unfaithful. He quit looking at God and began only seeing all his mounting problems. Soon, despair took over. Has that happened to you? Past victories and the present workings of God become obscured by the mounting troubles of the moment.

But, once again, God showed up! Praise God, He never gives up. He told Elijah: “‘Go out and stand on the mountain in the Lord’s presence.’ At that moment, the Lord passed by. A great and mighty wind was tearing at the mountains and was shattering cliffs before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was a voice, a soft whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Suddenly, a voice came to him and said, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’” (vv.11-13).

God’s reminded Elijah of His divine power over all things. But, that wasn’t what God wanted Elijah to focus upon. It was the still small voice of God that beckoned Elijah to wake up to reality and to once again recognize who is ultimately in control of all things. And once again the same question came forth: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

God is quietly asking you right now: What are you doing here today? Are you groveling in your despair? Throwing yourself a pity party? Overwhelmed by all the problems your life is filled up with?

Look to the One who is all powerful today. Look to the One who has the ability to pull you up out of the valley low and to carry you all the way back up to the mountaintop of victory. Listen for His still small voice beckoning you to simply trust Him.

God took Elijah and put him right back into service. God wants you back in service unto Him—right now! Simply trust His leading; have complete confidence in Him and Him alone! Quit whining and complaining and start shouting out your cry of victory.

Scripture Reading: “Protect me, God, for I take refuge in You. I said to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord; I have no good besides You.’ As for the holy people who are in the land, they are the noble ones in whom is all my delight. The sorrows of those who take another [god] for themselves multiply; I will not pour out their drink offerings of blood, and I will not speak their names with my lips. Lord, You are my portion and my cup of blessing; You hold my future. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. I will praise the Lord who counsels me- even at night my conscience instructs me. I keep the Lord in mind always. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my spirit rejoices; my body also rests securely. For You will not abandon me to Sheol; You will not allow Your Faithful One to see the Pit. You reveal the path of life to me; in Your presence is abundant joy; in Your right hand are eternal pleasures.” (Psalm 16 HCSB)

Personal Prayer: Father in heaven, I sometimes get really sidetracked. I lose sight of Your glory. I lose confidence in Your ability. I begin to take my eyes off of You and begin looking only at myself. I find myself especially vulnerable when I am up on a mountain of spiritual victory only to find myself slammed back down into the valley of despair. Father, I must learn to trust in You always. I must learn to listen for Your still, small voice that desires to lead me down the right paths of life. Help me, Lord, to trust in You alone! Help me when I falter to look only to You and help me, Lord, to become the person You desire for me to be. I love You and praise You always, in Jesus’ name…AMEN!