Reclaiming Joy

Day Two: Into the Valley

Genesis 26:17-18

17 So Isaac departed from there and camped in the valley of Gerar and settled there. 18 Isaac dug again the wells of water that had been dug in the days of his father Abraham; for the Philistines had stopped them up after the death of Abraham; and he gave them the names that his father had given them.

What part of Gerar is Isaac in?

The word “valley” is defined as “a broad depression between two hills.” It can also mean “a low point or interval in any process, representation, or situation; any place, period or situation that is filled with fear, gloom, foreboding, or the like, i.e., the valley of despair.”9

Valleys represent seasons when it’s difficult to see how things will work out, times when we feel depressed or low, or when circumstances just aren’t going in the direction we would like them to go. While being in a valley typically represents being faced with a challenge or difficulty, valleys can also be places where our hope is restored, where comfort is given, and where we begin to see a way forward.

We can enter valleys for any number of reasons. Circumstances out of our control can lead us into a valley. Sometimes we enter a valley because of the choices we make, or because of what others have done or are doing to us. Other times we enter valleys due to spiritual opposition. Whatever reason you find yourself in a valley, it doesn’t have to be a place of despair. The valley can be a place where you begin to do the hard work that will set you up to live and thrive in ways you’ve never known before.

Look up and read Psalm 84:5-7 in several different translations, if possible. Read these verses with a keen awareness of their spiritual meaning.

According to verse five, who are the ones that are “blessed”, “happy”, “filled with joy?”

What is the name of the valley mentioned in verse six?

What types of transformation do you see in these verses? Write down the different transformations you see.

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Those the Psalmist says are blessed, happy, or filled with joy, are those who find their strength in the Lord and have their hearts and minds set on journeying into His Presence. This journey, however, is not without struggle. This Psalm names a valley that the people of God go through on their journey to Jerusalem. The name of the valley is “Baca” or “Weeping.”

Notice that the Scripture says, “As they go through …” or “When they walk through the Valley of Weeping…” not “If they go through the Valley of Weeping.” Our journeys consist of valleys. There is no way around it. But the ones who find refreshment and blessings, even in the midst of the valleys, are the ones who choose to find their strength in the Lord and keep their hearts and minds set on the Presence of God. For them the valley will become a place, not of defeat and anxiety, but where they experience transformation and grow stronger.

Notice, for example, how the valley of Weeping is transformed. As the people of God journey through the Valley of Weeping toward the Presence of God, their tears of mourning are turned into springs that create an oasis. What an image! According to the Word Biblical Commentary, this is “a classic statement of faith which dares to dig blessing out of hardships.”10

As I thought about this, I considered my tendencies in the midst of valley experiences. When I first enter a valley, my tendency is to focus more on the valley than on the Presence of God. When circumstances are difficult, when relationships are strained, when I’m stressed and hurting, those things dominate my focus. But when I shift my gaze—when I lift my eyes and focus on the Presence of God—I am quickly comforted by Him. Circumstances do not immediately change, but I am strengthened and prepared for whatever the valley brings my way.

Think about a valley you have been through or are currently experiencing. What would you name that valley? (ex., The Valley of Weeping)

Is it natural for you to focus on God and His Presence in the midst of your valley experiences? If that is a challenge for you, what makes it difficult?

Can you see how God has transformed or is transforming your valley into a place of blessing? If so, how?

If you can’t, what is making that hard to see?

Name some ways your valley experiences have made you stronger.

How can you better partner with God to dig blessing out of your hardships? In other words, what are some practical steps you can take to help you fix your gaze on God and find your strength in him in the midst of your valleys?