Have you ever wondered why you don’t quite feel at home in this world? I have. Since meeting the Lord, I’ve often felt like a misfit—sidelined, like I no longer belong. Walking through deep valleys has sometimes left me crying out, “Where are You, God?” But over the years, I’ve learned that He is still the God of the valleys. He doesn’t abandon us in the low places; in fact, it’s often there, when everything else is stripped away, that we see Him most clearly.
Do you relate? Even among friends and family who knew you before you met Jesus, something feels… off. The things that once brought you joy no longer satisfy. You choose to faithfully walk through the valleys of life, difficult times, for reasons you can’t always explain. The life you once lived now feels strangely foreign. That’s because you no longer belong here—your heart is longing for another place.
“These all died in faith… they confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”
—Hebrews 11:13-16 NKJV
We are pilgrims on a journey to a city prepared by God. Even though the path includes valleys (difficult times and situations), those places aren’t detours; they’re part of God’s plan for us. And we know God’s plans are always better than our own (see Jeremiah 29:11).
In these valleys, we encounter the God of the valleys who guides us through our struggles and leads us to hope.
Trusting the God of the Valleys
Remember that even in our lowest moments, we can find strength in the God of the valleys.
We’re often tempted to look back to our own “Egypt”—the old way of life—because it feels familiar. I’ve lived overseas for almost 38 years now. I used to look back in my early days of living overseas, wondering what I was missing and what mistakes I was making by raising my family in a land far from home. It was especially difficult when things got difficult, which was (and is) often. But even then, I held onto my faith in the God of the valleys.
In times of trouble, we instinctively fall into patterns we once knew. But God has called us to something far greater than where we came from. He invites us to trust Him on the journey forward, not retreat to the comfort of the past.
“Now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country…”
—Hebrews 11:16 NKJV
Don’t dwell on what you’ve left behind—the “could’ve, would’ve, should’ve” had. Like the Israelites who passed through the Red Sea, you’ve crossed your own Red Sea, too. That means the old life is behind you. God has brought you out, not so you can look back with regret, but so you can move forward with hope.
You’re not wandering, you’re seeking a better country, a heavenly one. And God is not ashamed to be called your God, for He has prepared a place for you (see Hebrews 11:16). Keep your eyes forward. The best of your journey with Him still lies ahead.
It’s easy to give in to the temptation to return to what is familiar. God has brought you this far, don’t you dare stop at the edge of your promise.
Your Promised Land Comes with Valleys
“This is the land of which I swore to give Abraham…”
—Deuteronomy 34:1–4 NKJV
Like Moses, many of us find ourselves standing on the mountain, gazing into the land God has promised. I remember when we first began planting churches, it was thrilling to stand on the edge of that vision. “We will plant 1,000+ churches,” we declared in faith, hearts full of expectation.
However, the journey from promise to fulfillment was not a straightforward path. The reality of church planting led us through many valleys, deep and difficult ones at that. Valleys of discouragement, spiritual warfare, limited resources, and even war. And yet, it’s in those very valleys that God shaped us, refined the vision, and proved Himself faithful again and again.
We learned that entering the land God promised us wasn’t the end of the fight; it was just the beginning.
“Fight the good fight of faith…”
—1 Timothy 6:12 NKJV
When God guides you into new territory, He might lead you in unexpected ways. Trust Him during the transition, even if the path feels unfamiliar.
Sometimes, stepping into what God has prepared for you requires letting go of familiar routines, relationships, or mindsets. When planting churches, we learned that while some things remain consistent, such as His love for the world, His faithfulness, and our need for Him, His methods change to fit the battles we face.
You might feel disoriented, unsure, or even scared. But these feelings indicate that God is doing something new. Just as He guided the Israelites through the wilderness before leading them into the Promised Land, He guides us through seasons of change to prepare our hearts for what lies ahead.
The key to fighting the “good fight” is trust. Even when you don’t understand the “how,” you can trust the “Who.” He is faithful, and His guidance, even when it feels unfamiliar, is always good.
The Enemy Fears What’s Coming
“Their gods are gods of the hills… if we fight in the plain, surely we will be stronger…”
—1 Kings 20:23
“Because the Syrians have said… ‘The Lord is not God of the valleys,’ therefore I will deliver this great multitude into your hand.”
—1 Kings 20:28
If your battle feels overwhelming, remember: God doesn’t leave when the fight gets harder. He shows up in power. Our first church plant in Bujumbura, Burundi, taught us this lesson. War had erupted after the assassination of the country’s first democratically elected president. Tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, were displaced, and the country was in upheaval. We had just planted the church and wondered what to do.
Our only course of action was to trust God. He wasn’t surprised by the situation; He knew it was going to happen. Why did He send us there with three young children? Only God knows. However, I can say that during our years in Burundi, we witnessed miracles that we had never seen before or since. While I would never want to go through those days again, I wouldn’t change what I learned for anything.
The enemy believed Israel’s God couldn’t appear in the valleys, but he was mistaken. God is the God of the valleys as much as He is the God of the mountaintops. Don’t give in to the thought that God doesn’t see you in your valley. God is God, even in the valley.
What’s in the Valley?
“If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.”
—Psalm 139:8 NKVJ
God is not absent in your lowest place. It is in the lowest place that He shows up strong. When the battles raged in Burundi (and later in neighboring Rwanda and the DRC) and the sound of gunfire and grenades filled the air, we felt as if we were in hell. Fear assaulted our hearts and minds. But that fear was momentary as we witnessed God’s protection over our family and church members. We decided to plant our feet at the edge of hell’s gates and face our enemy. It was a hard decision, but we knew it was the right one.
On the mountaintops, where we see everything clearly, God isn’t so “needed” as He is in the valley. We needed God in our valley. We couldn’t just abandon the church; God didn’t give us the green light to leave. So we didn’t. In times like those dark days in Burundi’s war, we learned that God had sent us to people who needed Him. He also provided and protected us in that deep valley.
I now know to look for Him in the valley because in the valley is where I will find:
- Dry bones, people who need the Gospel, are waiting for life (see Ezekiel 37).
- Miracles we don’t see or need when on mountaintops.
God’s Table Is in the Valley
Psalm 23 was a powerful promise to me personally in those days. I lived each verse.
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. 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. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
—Psalm 23:5 NKJV
In the valley:
- Your enemies are present, but they can’t stop what God has for you.
- A table is prepared, full of healing, strength, peace, and provision.
- Anointing flows, breaking every yoke (see Isaiah 10:27).
- Goodness and mercy follow; God’s glory surrounds you.
- The Father’s house is near; run home when the fight is too heavy.
Springs Flow from the Valley
“The land… is a land of hills and valleys, which drinks water from the rain of heaven.”
—Deuteronomy 11:11
“As they pass through the Valley of Baca… they make it a spring…”
—Psalm 84:6
There’s rain, refreshment, and strength in the valley. During those difficult times, we found moments of great joy. There was a period when the city’s power grid was attacked, and we went three months without electricity. While that experience wasn’t joyful—I certainly didn’t enjoy making barbecued spaghetti (yes, I learned how to grill spaghetti! 🤣)—the real joy was in our family.
We spent many candlelit nights playing card games with our children (I excel in Uno©) and laughing until our sides ached. Those experiences and others like them were bright spots that strengthened us for the battles we found in the valley. It was like drinking fresh water after a long, hot day of work in the sun.
Lesson learned? The water from your valley sustains you on the mountaintop. Who has ever found a stream or river flowing on the top of the mountain? Those valley experiences sustain us to reach the top of the mountain.
When the Prison Shakes
In Acts 16, Paul and Silas were beaten and thrown into prison. They were in a deep valley, but they sang. When they did, the jail shook, the doors opened, and salvation came to an entire household.
Our days in Burundi led the church to a great season of revival. Before the onset of hostilities, our young church had grown to 500. Then, the Sunday after the war came to our part of town, only 56 people showed up for services. It was really hard for weeks! But then, God visited us, and the church grew to over 1,500 in a matter of months. The war made us feel as if we were in prison, but God shook the prison and loosed our chains.
You may feel as if you are in prison, but your jail is about to be shaken, and your bonds are about to be loosed. And when that happens, the bonds of others will be loosened, too.
The valley is where God performs miracles—not just for you, but also through you for others.
Don’t Run from the Valley—Someone’s Waiting There
“He set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones.”
—Ezekiel 37:1 NKJV
Just as we weren’t in Burundi by chance, you are not in the valley by chance either. There is someone there who needs to hear your voice. Don’t abandon your post; the valley is your mission field. This realization has taught me that the valley should not be avoided, but rather embraced with anticipation, knowing that someone is waiting for me there.
“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.”
—2 Corinthians 5:18 NKJV
What is Waiting for You in the Valley?
- God’s presence
- God’s power
- God’s table
- God’s anointing
- People waiting to hear the Gospel message
- Springs of refreshment
- His eyes watching over you from year to year (see Deuteronomy 11:12)
The valley is where God shows up.
The valley is where your faith grows.
The valley is where the harvest is waiting.
So don’t quit. God is the God of the valleys as much as He is God of the mountaintops.
A mountaintop can only be as tall as the surrounding valley is low.
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Related reading:
No Problem, How to Fight the Battles of Spring
