Mountains and Valleys by Pastor Karena Lout

                                                              

We often find that life is a journey of “highs and lows.” It doesn’t mean we can’t remain steady in the midst of it all but we need to learn how to follow the rhythm of Heaven. Jesus was just as comfortable going into the valleys as He was standing on mountaintops. He went to the mountain to receive His identity and to connect with His Father (Luke 6:12). Then He climbed down to the lowest point to model for us how to “be with” those trapped in pain, sickness and sin to bring real healing.

What I love about Jesus is that He wasn’t afraid to get messy. He wasn’t worried what people would think of Him. He didn’t yell down from the mountaintop to the woman caught in adultery. He got up close and personal, challenged the religious leaders and brought love and healing to the brokenhearted.  He never loved from a distance. We need a paradigm shift if we find that we’re spending more time trying to convince people that their lifestyle or behavior is wrong than we are convincing them of God’s love for them. As we’ve found in our own lives, it’s the kindness of Jesus that leads us to repentance.

Jesus also wants to meet us in the valley of our own hearts. Sometimes it’s easier to meet Jesus up on the mountain when we’re feeling “on top of the world” so to speak. But it’s often more difficult to invite Jesus to be with us in the valley, to believe that He would be willing to get low in order to empathize with our hearts (Phil. 2:6-11). I’ve found that as Jesus meets me and brings healing to my heart, these low places soon become high places because connection is what we’re all longing for.

As we learn to move with the heartbeat of Heaven, we become more aware when we need to go to the mountain to gain new perspective and when we need to go down to release what we’ve been given. God weaves these highs and lows into one beautiful dance. His mercy is the fuel and His justice is the vehicle. We need both in order to fully receive from Him. I pray that God would give you courage to go to the valley when you need to meet with Jesus the Lamb. I also pray He would give you new strength as you climb the mountain to connect in ever increasing ways with Jesus the Lion.