Don’t Despise the Valley Pt. 2

Earlier this year, Bill Johnson lost his wife to cancer. Three days later, he was behind the pulpit preaching. Here is a small section of what he taught:

God is not a vending machine that I get to put a quarter into and withdraw from Him what I want. He chooses what He gives. But it is the wicked at heart that say ’God didn’t do what I wanted, He is a liar’. May I never be found critiquing God when things don’t go my way. May I always be found having a heart ready to be critiqued by Him. Is God my friend? He is. But He is my Lord first, and I’ll never have the pain I’m feeling right now in eternity, so in this moment it is a privilege to respond rightly to the Lord of my life with deeper trust and devotion. I will bow before the Lamb on the Throne in awe, and worship Him forever, but never will I have the face to face chance to do that while I’m in pain, so in this moment I choose to do that.

Bill Johnson

I love this perspective. One day, I will stand before the King of kings and there will be no more tears and no more pain. Worshiping Him in that atmosphere will be easy – effortless. But for now, I live in a world that is saturated in pain and disappointment. My choice to worship Him in these moments is a true sacrifice. It’s not easy. The enemy throws every painful reminder and seemingly justifiable doubt in my face every chance he gets.

So, when I choose, in these moments, to give my full focus and worship to my heavenly Father, I have to believe that it means so much more to Him – and brings me so much closer to His presence.

Bill Johnson said something else that day, as he preached and mourned the loss of his wife:

What I found is there are measures of His presence that you can only find in the valley of the shadow of death.

I’ve always found Psalm 23 to be much deeper than just a simple psalm of comfort. There is a story of intimacy and presence wrapped up in it’s words. My favorite verses happen to be verses 5 and 6.

You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. - Psalm 23:5,6

I love this because it says that no matter what you are going through, the Father is there with you. Not only is He there, but He has prepared a table in the MIDST of the trial…in the presence of my enemies. After living in the Middle East for 17 years, I am very aware of the significance of a table. It’s not just a place to eat, but it’s a place of fellowship, a place of intimacy. It’s a place where families and friends come together to talk, laugh, cry, and hope.

In the midst of your trials, pain, and disappointment – where the enemy would see you crushed and discouraged – the Father has created a table for His presence. It’s a place of His anointing, of His goodness, and of His mercy. In the midst of all your pain, He is pursuing you with hope and purpose.

All of this is happening in the valley.

Don’t despise the valley.

Peace.