My Journey Has Been Anything But Straight
A lot of teaching on “mountains and valleys” in regards to the Christian life is not “Mountain and Valley” accurate.
A lot of teaching on “mountains and valleys” in regards to the Christian life is not “Mountain and Valley” accurate. One usually only hears sermons on the “mountain tops of life,” or “the valleys of life,” as if those are the only two choices. Rather, this earth has mountains, valleys, winding roads that lead up mountains, and winding roads that lead down into valleys.
Mistakenly, people refer to the valleys as being “trials,” but actually, when you are in a valley, it is flat and calm, and one can view the mountains on either side. Also, people speak of mountain-top experiences as if they are free from concern, when in reality, they must traverse a winding road going up the mountain, which is indeed a climb.
No, I prefer reality, and to make sure my metaphors are properly balanced by it. Scripture’s teaching on the Christian life is consistent with the reality of our mountains and valleys on Earth. The mountain and valley metaphorical language should include all of the following…
Mountain Tops - Yes, they feel good. Yes, they provide relief. Yes, they can be very triumphant. However, they are not permanent. Further, one is not free from concern on a mountain. One still has to look out for cliffs, predators, adverse weather conditions, and more. Also, much of what we need in life won’t be easily found on top of a mountain due to the lack of space. One typically has to travel down into a valley for supplies, food, and other needs.
Valleys - Valleys are typically flat, and one valley I know of in Natural Bridge, VA, has a very long and straight road between two mountains. The weather is different down in a valley. The air is different. One has to watch for falling rocks, flooding, and other dangers. While valleys may have more area for buildings, supplies, etc., there is a reason the population in valleys is not as high as in other places.
Winding Roads Going Up The Mountain - It is very rare that one takes a road up or down a mountain that is straight. Many of the roads we ride up the mountain are the same ones we ride coming back down. We see some of the same things. Going up a mountain takes more time because of the incline, and one has to keep an eye out for others coming down the mountain, going too fast, or driving out of control due to loss of brakes.
Winding Roads Going Down The Mountain - Once again, rarely straight traveling going down a mountain. Also, one has to worry about speed and brakes as one is traveling downward. Go too fast, and one can’t see what is around a corner quickly enough, which will lead to great danger, like running into someone going up the mountain.
Spiritual Application
Mountain Tops - When we are on the mountain, we need to rest, we need to regain our strength, and we need to survey the road we just came up. What needs to change? What should we learn? Was the road more rocky or dangerous due to any sin? Did we handle our rise appropriately? Far too often, Christians so eagerly await a mountain-top experience that they neglect to experience and learn from the travel up the mountain.
Valleys - You may have just come rushing down a mountain and face much danger as you entered into a trial, time of suffering, or consequence for your sin. Take heart, because now you are in the valley where it is flatter, calmer, and the dangers are minimal. Take this time to rest, think about what God is teaching you from the winding road you just came down, and also take time to appreciate the mountains in front of you and behind you.
These mountains represent your growth and your life, and you can learn from the ride up and down. On the mountain top and in the valley, one can rest, enjoy the temporary peace, and learn from their experience going up and down the winding roads of life. Our lives were never meant to remain on a mountain or in a valley. Life is lived on the roads going up and down, and they are rarely straight!
Sometimes, when in a valley, the problems do not cease. Sometimes, being in a valley just means the problems are not escalating or deteriorating. It means one has to endure, tolerate, or grow in the midst of what is going on around them. I just recently went through a period like this where I was stuck in a horrible work situation. I had no way out for a long time and had to learn to endure during that valley. I could not see the roads to lead out of it because they were encased in fog. However, the fog did lift, and I was finally able to get out!
Winding Roads Going Up The Mountain - Going up and coming down have their own unique challenges. In both, there can be trials and suffering. However, the experience can feel a little different. Much like literally traveling up a mountain, the climb can be slower, and it can even feel like an eternity at times. We can carry scars with us from the previously traveled road down and the valley we are coming out of. However, much like real valleys where there tends to be more commerce and activity, we can gain the requisite knowledge, experience, and supplies for our travel back up another mountain.
I know in my life traveling up the road to the mountain top can feel like a long process, and then you turn one corner, and you reach the summit! Now, I can breathe fresh air, I can see the beautiful views, and I can exhale and rest!
Winding Roads Going Down The Mountain - This one can be tricky. Sometimes it can be very obvious that one is going down a winding road into a valley. Other times, it can sneak up on you. Even still, sometimes everything can seem fine, and then a sharp curve comes out of nowhere and surprises you.
For example, I recently left a job where I was employed for almost 5 years. The first year and a half seemed perfectly normal, and I saw no issues on the horizon. Then, one day, out of nowhere, I was pulled into a meeting where my production was not only questioned but legitimately lied about in writing. When I asked for examples, they had none. I would come to find out that I was working for a female narcissist and an insecure micromanager. From this point on, the winding road down the mountain turned into a literal crash course! When I finally reached the valley, I had to hold up and endure in this situation for a few more years before God provided a way out.
The key is that I thought at the time that my mountain had plateaued, and I would be in what appeared to be a great situation for good. Little did I know that God was about to allow this burden to come upon me for a variety of reasons.
What Did My Mountains, Valleys, And Winding Roads Teach Me?
The last 5 years of my life were used by God to teach me how to hold up and endure under a very toxic work environment. I found that I had endurance that I did not previously know that I had. I also learned the practice and necessity of keeping one’s mouth shut in the midst of toxic circumstances. It is a vital thing to learn how to recognize that, sometimes in life, saying something will be far worse than not saying anything. I got real-world experience in this area.
Did I want to respond to what was happening around me? Sure!
Did I respond to what was happening to me? No. In fact, it is the most I have bit my lip in my entire life! I believe in many ways that God, through the power of the Spirit, protected me from bringing further harm by learning in this period to recognize what I was dealing with and respond appropriately.
There was never going to be any changing of that environment. Sadly, many companies put people “in charge” who do not have the skill set. I was not there to make any changes. I was there to learn how to exist and endure in that environment. Now, this flies in the face of the so-called “Prosperity Preachers” who would say that God only wants me to have mountain tops and never any valleys, let alone any winding roads going up or down a mountain. However, reality and Scripture tell me that all of these things work together for my good, and my good is being more Christ-like.
God, in His infinite wisdom, decided and knew that I needed this time period to mature and learn how to experience this sort of thing. Now, if anyone comes in my path who is going through something similar, I can tell them that I know what it feels like and help them through it.
Needless to say, it was a period of great stress, depression, anxiety, and much more. I had to keep my mouth shut when being yelled at and belittled because even though I knew I could respond and, in some cases, would have responded, in this situation, I truly felt that God wanted me to remain quiet and endure the suffering.
It taught me a lot about myself, and it taught me a lot about God and how He uses life, suffering, trials, and much more to mature us, to strengthen us, and to ready us for our future.
So, even if this sounds extreme or insane to some, I thank God for my mountain tops, my valleys, my winding roads going up the mountain, and my winding roads going down into the valleys. Why? Because I am more Christ-like as a result. I am a better Pastor as a result. I am a more mature Christian as a result.
Current Situation
I have reached a place of calm. I am on a mountain of peace at the moment. I have a far better job that is not toxic. I am an interim Pastor at a local church. Overall, my stress levels are near 0 most days. I am enjoying the calm. I am enjoying the peace. I am laughing more. I am sleeping better. I thank God for bringing me to this place.
I can get back into online ministry more consistently again. I am enjoying being back on YouTube and Substack once again!
What Does My Future Hold?
Life tells me that there will be another winding road going down at some point in the future. The older I get, the less shocked I am when they come. Sometimes, God gives us short seasons on the mountain. Sometimes, the mountains can last a few years. It is all dependent on God and His sovereignty in our lives.
The key is being far more satisfied in knowing Christ and living for Him than it is about one’s personal comfort. I always learn more about God in hard times because He reveals Himself to be faithful at all times, even if I am not.
Will there be another winding road, valley, and yes, other mountains in my future? Sure, and I embrace it now. I am sure it will be hard. I am sure that it will look different, and I am sure that I will grow from it.
I trust the God that brings me Mountain Tops.
I trust the God that brings me Valleys.
I trust the God that brings me Winding Roads Going Up Mountains.
I trust the God that brings me Winding Roads Going Down Into Valleys.
