If you are in a valley right now, take heart, a season to stand on a mountaintop will come; an eternity in a good land will come. God promises that He will guide us through the hills and valleys to a good land (Deuteronomy 8:7).

Because of the faithfulness of God, Daniel was able to pray without fear in the lion’s den and it was God’s faithfulness that brought Daniel through the night unharmed (Daniel 6). Because of the transforming power of God in Paul’s life, he was able to write letters to encourage early Christians to take up the cross and follow Jesus even as he himself sat in chains in a Roman prison (Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon). Paul was so sure of God’s faithfulness that he is recorded as singing praises to God in prison (Acts 16:25-26).

Beloved, because of God’s never-ending faithfulness, we are able to draw on His strength to face all things, hills and valleys, not with gritted teeth and mere survival in mind, but with praise and courage and the glorious joy that comes from knowing how this story ends (Revelation 21). Because of His unfailing promises, we are able to lift each other up continually in prayer knowing that He will bring all things together for our good according to His will (1 Thessalonians 5:8-28, Romans 8:28).

Dear heart, it may be a rough season right now, but there is One who can see you through to the next season. It may have been a rough life so far, but there is One who makes all things new. He’s not hiding. He’s not ignoring you. Lay it all at His feet. It is in surrender that we find strength, in Him that we learn what it truly means to know peace and joy and hope.