I shared about the life of David in our current series - The Shadow. (watch here) David faced the giant Goliath but it didn't overwhelm him. David knew God was bigger, stronger and he remembered God's faithfulness to him in the past challenges. The shadow was cast over his life and there was the indication in that shadow that God was with David.

We talked about how life is not a series of unrelated events just like the Bible isn't a series of unrelated stories. It's all one narrative. When we connect our story into God's story, life starts to make sense.

When we walk through the valleys in life, it can bring sorrow. When we face the giants in life, it can bring fear. The challenges of life can feel overwhelming. When we look beyond ourselves and see life from an eternal perspective, we see the bigger picture and those moments aren't so big anymore.  In the shadow of Jesus over our lives, the challenges aren't overwhelming because we have hope.

WHAT IF WE TOOK THIS TO THE NEXT LEVEL and challenges brought joy? Sound crazy?

Look what it says in James 1:2-4Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,  because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James talks about how those valleys, giants, & challenges in life are a chance for us to see God work in and through our lives. It's an opportunity to develop our lives towards maturity as we keep taking steps to trust God.

As we face challenges, we feel overwhelmed and respond with thoughts of "now what am I going to do?" Instead what if we responded with thoughts of "I can't wait to see what God's going to do this time!"? May the shadow of Jesus and the hope we have in Him be cast over your life and whatever challenge you might face. May his shadow be the indication that he is at work in your life and how his faithfulness can even bring joy in the valleys!

 

Listen to Ginny's story about this song as she finds hope in God even through the valley

 

6a01287651ec45970c014e8bf2fd92970d-250hi