I’ve just returned from my writers conference with mixed emotions. On one hand, I met some major goals and learned some usable information. On the other hand, I now have new information that I’ll need to put pen to paper, as the saying goes, and incorporate those lessons into my writing. It feels like I’ve crested a hill only to find more hills to climb before I reach the summit.

This leaves me teetering between feeling good about what I’ve accomplished and overwhelmed by the daunting challenges ahead. There are some good scriptures on mountains and valleys we can look at.

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭52‬:‭7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

This version speaks to my writer’s heart, for even though the genre I’m writing is speculative fiction, it has a message of forgiveness and redemption.

But look closer. The messenger is on the mountain just like Moses.

And he gave to Moses, when he had finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God.
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭31‬:‭18‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Retreats and conferences often feel like mountain top experiences until we come home and find ourselves in the valley.

Then Moses turned and went down from the mountain with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand, tablets that were written on both sides; on the front and on the back they were written. The tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets. 

And as soon as he came near the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, Moses’ anger burned hot, and he threw the tablets out of his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain.
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭32‬:‭15‬-‭16‬, ‭19‬ ‭ESV‬‬

When we come down from the mountain with all our plans intact and see the mess of life, it becomes instinctual to cast those plans down and break them because of the overwhelm.

Now we’re in the valley, but God gives us hope.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭23‬:‭4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“For you are with me.” We may feel the oppression, but God is there to guide us through the valley and defend against the enemy’s attacks (rod and staff).

Your Spirit is everywhere I go. I cannot escape your presence. If I go up to heaven, you will be there. If I go down to the place of death, you will be there. If I go east where the sun rises or go to live in the west beyond the sea, even there you will take my hand and lead me. Your strong right hand will protect me.
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭139‬:‭7‬-‭10‬ ‭ERV‬‬

As I face this next hill and the next mountain after that, I will remind myself of this advice— 

Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.
‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭31‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Whether you are on the mountain or in the valley, you are not alone. God is with you.

Grace & Peace,

Sandy

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