Joy in the Valley, by Mary Reneau

At last we had reached the peak! The long struggle to reach the top was over and a breath taking view spread out before us.
As we stood there breathing the fresh mountain air, we could see for miles in every direction. 

We looked to the sea on the right, with it's rolling surf 

and to the snow capped mountains on the left.

The view was worth all the effort it took to reach the top. Here on the peak where we stood, was sunshine and a warm breeze.

After a few minutes rest and a refreshing snack,we picked up our packs and started down into the valley.

As we wended our way down through the trees, we were leaving the sunshine, and the breeze was much cooler.
Our minds were still on the beautiful sights from the mountain top. We wished we could have stayed the whole day up there in the sunshine. What could we see on the downward trek that could surpass the beauty of what we had just experienced?

Suddenly we came out of the trees and there we were at the head of the valley.

                           Spread out before us like a carpet, were thousands of flowers of every shape and color. 

Again we were in the sunlight and were in sight of the cabin we had been traveling 
toward all afternoon.


Already it seemed we could smell the bacon cooking and the aroma of coffee boiling on the fire. We had been in this valley before and knew how beautiful it was. Why did we always forget as we came down  through the shadow of the trees and keep wishing we were back on the mountain top?

I think we do this often in our Christian life. Sometimes it seems like God is blessing us more than we can contain. Our hearts are over flowing with joy and our lips are filled with His praises.

Then the shadows of trouble come and we are soon caught in the web of discouragement and depression. We forget that Jesus said, "Lo, I am with you always." and before we know it, we have lost our joy and our lips are hushed from His praises.

Just when we think we can go no farther, through some small way, God reveals His presence to us. We realize He has been there all the time. The joy we feel of knowing God is with us in time of trouble is greater than the joy on the mountain top. 
Then we can say, "Truly, there is Joy in the Valley, because God is with us."

End

(photos by Sharon Hegwood)