From the Mountain to the Valley

Mark9:2-9

Life's mountaintop experiences can prepare us for the inevitable valleys that will follow. A mountaintop experience is something to celebrate and remember like a graduation, wedding or the birth of a child. At these times faith comes easy. There’s no doubt in your mind that God is blessing you.

But life has valleys, too. These are difficult moments of disease, death, and loss. Faith is more difficult when you’re in the valley. Doubt creeps in.

The disciples were experiencing one high-point after another with Jesus. He had performed great miracles and crowds of people gathered to hear his teachings. It seemed clear that he was the Messiah; the chosen one of God.

But right around the corner loomed the valley of the shadow of death. The crowds would soon turn against Jesus. He’d be betrayed, arrested, tortured and executed. The disciples would be fearful and doubt that Jesus was the Son of God.

Right before the valley, Jesus takes Peter, James and John to a mountain. He wants to strengthen them for the difficult road ahead and lets them catch a glimpse of his glory. He was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white. (Mark 9:3)

Peter wanted this moment to last forever. He wanted to build a monument but Jesus had more work to do. He came down from the mountain and set his face toward Jerusalem and the cross. Jesus went to the mountain to be transfigured but came down the mountain to be a savior.

Our circumstances can change faster than Texas weather. Jesus did not promise us a stress free life. He said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:32-33)

A mountain top experience with God brings us closer to Him. We can take what we learned on the mountaintop into the valley below to help carry us through to the next mountaintop.

The Apostle Paul wrote, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)