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Looking Forward To Future Joy
5
Ways to Make Valleys of Weeping into Places of Springs
By Cheryl
Barker
“As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place
of springs . . .” Psalm 84:6a
People have
had to travel through tough times and places since the beginning of time.
Ever
since sin entered the world through Adam and Eve, difficulty and suffering have
touched our lives.
In the
verse from Psalm 84 above, pilgrims on their way to observe the religious
festivals in Jerusalem (see verse 5) passed
through the Valley of Baca — a valley of suffering.
My NIV
text note tells me that “Baca” means either “weeping” or “balsam trees.”
It goes
on to say that balsam trees were common in arid valleys.
So,
whether the meaning here is a place of weeping or an arid place, both paint
pictures of difficulty and suffering.
The
pilgrims didn’t have it easy. They had to travel through tough places.
Today
believers are still pilgrims traveling through tough places, through valleys of
weeping or struggles.
Each
one of us is walking life’s road toward our heavenly home. Each one of us faces
tough places along the journey.
Places
and times when grief, trials, or spiritually dry times overwhelm us. Like the
pilgrims of old, we don’t have it easy.
But
notice how the scripture tells us that these Old Testament pilgrims made their
valleys of weeping into places of springs.
If
you’re like me, you’re wondering how in the world they did that.
Again,
an NIV text note gives further insight. It says that the pilgrims’ expectations
of joy transformed the difficult ways into places of refreshment.
The
promise of coming joy helped see them through.
So how
can we transform our valleys of suffering into places of
springs?
Here
are five ways that might help us:
1. Keep our eyes on the Lord and turn to him for solace. Even
during our toughest times, he can supernaturally give us comfort, strength,
refreshment, and even joy when we look to and depend on him.
2. Like the Old Testament pilgrims, expect and look
forward to future joy. Instead of focusing only on the grief or
difficulties we are currently dealing with, let’s keep an eye on future days
when joy will be our portion again.
3. Find something every day to be thankful for. Expressing
gratitude for something — for anything positive we see in the midst of our
struggles — can lighten the moment, lift our spirits, or give us a fresh
perspective.
4. Instead of isolating ourselves, stay involved with
others and allow them to provide the comforting touch or encouraging word we
need. Remember, God uses people to apply balm to our hurting
hearts.
5. Read from the Bible every day — even if it’s just a
few verses. God’s Word is living and active (Hebrews
4:12). It can provide refreshment and comfort and wisdom and
everything else we need on any given day. It has been a lifeline for me nearly
all my life.
As we
apply these strategies — and others you may be thinking of — I can almost
guarantee that God will bless us with moments of refreshment in the tough
places of our lives.
God
wants to show us his love and he will honor the efforts we make as we look to
him.
We may
not have it easy all the time, but we do have a God who walks with us and is
able to transform our valleys of weeping into places of springs. Let’s keep our
eyes on him.
“He turned the desert into pools of water and the parched ground
into flowing springs;” Psalm 107:35
* Which of these strategies have made a difference in your life
during tough times? What else could you add to the list?
I was an
English teacher for a short time myself but gave it up to
become a full-time, stay at home mom. Our daughters Kristin and Kelli grew up
to be amazing women who brought equally amazing men into our family as sons-in-law.
We love them each one, and no one could be prouder of their kids than we are of
Kristin and Shawn and Kelli and Jake. Also, in January 2015 God blessed Kristin
and Shawn with twin boys and then in August 2016 he blessed Kelli and Jake with
twin boys! That’s right, we have two sets of twin grandsons! As you can
imagine, I adore Isaiah and James and Samuel and Silas and absolutely love
being a grandma.
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