The View From The Valley Isn’t Bad
“You do not have to sit outside in the dark. If, however, you want to look at the stars, you will find that darkness is required.” —Annie Dillard
Managing uncertainty is a matter of utter dependence on the Lord. He is our resource and hope when we face trials. In fact, it is his person that is our greatest asset. Psalm 23 teaches us an important lesson: “Even 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 ” (v.4).
What I discovered is that the view from the valley isn’t so bad. In fact, it gives you a focus on Christ that you can’t get any other way. Have you ever noticed that the stars shine brighter in the desert? There are no obstructions, no distractions or competing lights. The view from the valley isn’t bad because Jesus shines so clearly. He is the treasure that we all can enjoy during any and every circumstance in our lives.
Sometimes, we are tempted to withhold our feelings of anxiety from the Lord, because we are afraid that they indicate a lack of trust in him. This posture will actually prevent the Lord from bringing his peace to us. We must pour out our true feelings to him when we are faced with uncertainty. But recognizing our need of him and seeing whatever predicament we face the way it actually is, we begin walking with the Lord rather than running away from him. Yet, how do we comply with the command of Scripture not to be anxious? Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God .”
These verses are God’s eternal advice to us. He’s the one who tells us not to be anxious. Surely he understands what it is like to live at the end of the twentieth century. So how do we do it? We do it by actively obeying the second part of the verse. “Do not be anxious about anything .” Anything. Even hard things. Even frightening things, like cancer.
We are not to be anxious about anything because in everything we are meant to pray and petition. The word prayer means to express what’s on your heart and mind. To petition means to give the concern and method of resolution over to God. “Here’s my problem God. Work it out according to your way. In your time. In your manner.”
Paul goes on to admonish us to do all this “with thanksgiving.” This sovereign God who created the heaven and the earth cares about me and how I feel. He cares about you and how you feel. Whether you are praying over a bunion or because another guy at work got a better shovel than you did, the fact is that you are concerned about it, and so is he.
We are commanded in Scripture to talk to the Father about all of our concerns. We do not get extra points by facing painful ordeals without the Lord. He listens to our prayers. He longs to communicate with us. He hears and acts on our prayers, because he loves us, because he chose us, and because we’re his.
Here’s the reward that follows: “And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).
The verse concludes with the promise that God’s peace will guard your hearts and minds. That’s very important to remember. He’s talking about your emotions and your intellect. Both need guarding. Many of you are guarding one and not the other and don’t know why you’re having such tensions with uncertainty. Verse 8 tells us how to guard the heart and the mind: “…whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence, if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things…and the God of peace shall be with you .”
When we put our circumstances in perspective, we can experience the peace of God. Dwelling on those things which are true, pure, and lovely is to make a conscious choice to let go of the anxiety we feel and to focus on eternal truths. We know we are destined for an eternity with our Maker. We can dwell on the ways that God has blessed us: family, loving friends, a good job, and an opportunity to worship freely. Any number of truths that concentrate on God’s utter devotion to us will put to rest the cyclical negative emotions and thoughts that plague us during times of uncertainty.
John Wimber, Living With Uncertainty (Anaheim: Vineyard Ministries International, 1996), 9-11.
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