Believers are just passing through this life, bound for the promise land. One day we will walk out of this valley.
Psalm 84:6 Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.
The word "Beca" means weeping or sorrow or tears. There have been and will be more valleys in our lives. If we keep our minds on our destination, it will help us to endure our tribulation.
Psalm 30:5 Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
JOB'S BECA: How do you like it on the ash heap? "Well, I don't like it that much, but I am just passing through. For I know my Redeemer liveth . . . . though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God."
Don't waste your sorrows in the valleys. Dig out a well of blessing. The apostle Paul dug some wells in his valley: Prison Epistles Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.
This world is not my home, I'm just a passin' through.
God talks to us through the Holy Spirit. He uses preachers, teachers, sermons, sorrow, sickness, setbacks, and scriptures. Its not a suggestion or an option.
Proverbs 29:1 He, that being often reproved, hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be distroyed and that without remedy.
Hardening his neck is putting off coming to Christ. Some come under divine conviction. Their souls are stirred to salvation, and then pride steps in. They think they are as good as others. They don't want to be embarrassed.
Some reject God because they love pleasure more than God. God onlys asks us to give up the things that hurt us. Who wouldn't trade hell for heaven, dirt for diamonds, pain for peace?
God may not give those who reject Him another chance. Their destiny is bleak.
Genesis 6:3 My Spirit shall not always strive with man . . .
Jesus said, "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
Now is the time for salvation.
People were created for relationships -- first with God then with other human beings. Relationships offer us the most intense pleasures in life. But when we are rejected, betrayed, criticized, falsely accused, misunderstood, overlooked, ignored, unloved, and unappreciated, we feel the deepest hurt possible. We seek relief in self-help books, counselors, and some in a bottle or pill.
The Bible gives great advice about how to improve relationships.
Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
Kindness does not return evil with evil. It is not mean-spirited, rude or unfriendly.
We are going to be offended, but God forbids grudges and fighting back. As God has forgiven us, we are to forgive others who have wronged us.
Forgiveness means that you will no longer regard the wrong doer as indebted to you, that you are more interested in moving ahead in your life than being controlled by the past.
God will give us strength when we are faced with spiritual, mental, emotional, domestic, and even financial emergencies. Some people become despondent and "burn out" in God's work. Many just "back out" without courage and hope.
Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon The Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint.
Most of us have a waiting problem. "Lord, give me patience, and I want it right now." Waiting upon The Lord means searching the Word of God, seeking the fellowship of God, and surrendering to the will of God.
God wants to give us strength to soar like an eagle, not simply be a barnyard turkey. We can rise above this world and take our place in the heavenlies. We can have strength to do the impossible.
Teach me, Lord, to wait.
