LIFE'S VALLEYS

In your Christian experience you might live on

a mountain top where the sun is always shining,

the temperature is always correct and the birds always

singing.

But, I don't.

And I would bet that you do not either.  I have times

that I feel like God and I are close buddies.  Then the

next day I wonder where he went.  What is wrong with

me?  [Or you.]

I recently got a book on the life of David Brainerd.

It is largely based on his Diary, not some one writing

about him.  You probably know that David Brainerd

possibly tried to walk closer to God than any man

alive since the Apostle Paul.  True he was of a frail

nature, but he wore himself out in service to God and

died at an early age of only 30 years old.

Thus far, the thing in the book that is the most

encouraging to me is the fact that even this man

who tried to make every minute count for God,

had discouraging hours and days wondering if 

God had forsaken him.  WOW! even him.

Madam Guyon the celebrated French Mystic

who was one of the greatest Christian leaders

of all time even had her "down times".  If I 

remember correctly she went through a period

of time for seven years wondering if or why

God had abandoned her.

I am simply saying that even the best of Christians

have their low periods of time.  Consider the Psalmist:

"O LORD, how long will you forget me?  Forever?

How long will you look the other way?

How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul,

with sorrow in my heart every day?

How long will my enemy have the upper hand?

Turn and answer me, O LORD my God!

Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die."

(Psalms 13:1 - 3 NLT)

"Therefore, since we are surrounded

by such a huge crowd of witnesses to 

the life of faith, let us strip off every

weight that slows us down, especially

the sin that so easily trips us up.  And

let us run with endurance the race God

has set before us."

(Hebrews 12:1 NLT)