Valleys, waiting seasons, the void—whatever you call it, it doesn’t feel good. Rightfully so, these terms carry negative connotations. They imply a lack of sunlight, a lack of progress, and a lack of comfort. But—and there is always a divine “but” with God—He is not only the God of the mountains; He is the God of the valleys.
We see this clearly in the life of Elijah. He had just come from a massive “mountain-top” high, calling down fire from heaven to put the prophets of Baal to shame. It was a moment of spiritual victory. Yet, almost immediately after, he spiraled into a “negative space”—a valley so deep and dark that he sat under a broom bush and prayed to die.
“He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. ‘I have had enough, Lord,’ he said. ‘Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.'” (1 Kings 19:4)
Even in that void, God didn’t rebuke him; He met him. He sent an angel to provide nourishment and rest. If a prophet as bold as Elijah found himself in a valley of despair, we shouldn’t be surprised when we find ourselves there, too.
For the past three and a half months, I have been in this place. From my home church to my young adult group, every message has been a targeted arrow aimed at this season. Here is what the journey from winter to spring has revealed.
January: The Pain of Alignment
January was about the surgical work of alignment. He is the source of daily bread that needs to prayed over. (Matthew 6:11).
Fasting and seeking alignment starved my flesh to finally feed my soul. I wanted to align every part of my life with His will, which led to the pruning I desperately needed. When you prune a fruit tree, you aren’t damaging it; you are saving it from its own unproductive weight. Pruning baring your core to prepare for the inner work.
Alignment isn’t a one-time event; it is a daily recalibration.
February: The Architecture of Soul Care
February shifted the focus to the internal structure. A soul is like a house; when it is under construction, it requires immense time, specific parts, and careful preparation. You can guard your heart all you want, but if your soul isn’t anchored in the Bedrock, the structure will inevitably crumble (Matthew 7:24-27).
The soul is the intrinsic “you”—the part of you that remains when the world is stripped away. Rebuilding a house you didn’t realize was fragile is a humbling process. Houses require constant maintenance. You must intentionally pour life into your soul, or the poison of bitterness and comparison will seep into the cracks.
March: The Discipline of Stillness
March was about the deafening silence of stillness. The world is noisy, and the daily clamor is exhausting. Having to be “on” every day is a recipe for burnout. Sitting in the presence of God feels different when there is no worship leader, no guided devotional, and no background music to fill the gaps.
Being still is about learning His voice and listening for the whisper. Even when you don’t hear it, you must remain faithful, returning to Him constantly.
God is never bothered by our persistence (Luke 18:1-8). If Jesus—the Son of God—felt the necessity to withdraw and be alone with the Father, why do we think we can survive without doing the same?
April: The Vulnerability of New Life
April and spring breed new life, but new life is often preceded by a storm. Yes, it rains. But we must remember that the rain is the very element that cultivates the fruit (Galatians 5:22-23). Even if you feel the exact opposite of “fruitful” right now, push on.
In the middle of the storm, Jesus is not a distant observer; He is in the boat. The tomb is empty; therefore, you are not. Your emptiness is actually space for Him to fill. It is okay to cry—the Spirit intercedes for us when words fail (Romans 8:26).
We need to cultivate that radical, unshakable “even if” faith modeled by Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the face of the fiery furnace. Their posture wasn’t built on a guarantee of physical safety, but on the unwavering character of their Creator. They didn’t have a “contract” with God for a rescue; they had a covenant with Him for their lives. They boldly declared that while they knew God was capable of delivering them, and they certainly hoped He would, their devotion was not contingent on the outcome. It is a faith that says, “God is able, but even if He doesn’t step in the way I expect, He is still good, and He is still God.” When we reach the end of our own strength in the valley, we must cling to that same resolve—trusting Him not just for the miracle of the exit, but for the majesty of His presence within the fire.
“Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.'” (Daniel 3:16-18)
The Purpose of the Valley
We often try to climb quickly or take the easy, shortcut to end the valley as quickly as possible, but look how that did Jonah dirty. The valleys are God’s training grounds. They are places of preparation for the heights to come.
In the fight, you produce fruit.
In the suffering, you produce strength.
In the hurt, you produce healing.
Reaching the mountain takes hard work and an uphill battle, but we don’t walk it alone. Whether you are like Elijah under the broom bush, exhausted and ready to give up, or like the three brothers facing the heat of the furnace, the promise remains the same. Jesus walks alongside us because He has already overcome the world (John 16:33). This walk was never promised to be easy, but there is an eternal purpose in the timing.
So, talk to Him, the One who knows your heart and soul like no one else would. Ask Him to remind you that He’s working while you wait. Tell Him you’re trusting that the tension is creating fruit that is longlasting. Tell Him you’re releasing your right to know and depending on His timing that His will be done. Tell Him you’re believing that this is producing good fruit and strengthening you.
Genre
The Focus
Psalms
How to feel: Learning to process your deepest emotions and laments before God.
Proverbs
How to live: Gaining practical wisdom for your daily walk and decisions.
Major & Minor Prophets
How to wait: Finding the strength to remain faithful when the promise feels far off.
The Gospels
How to follow: Looking to Jesus as the ultimate roadmap for a life of surrender.