Devotionals for the Heart: When you didn't choose the valley lows in life

I Didn’t Choose this Valley
A devotional by Terry Overton

“I called on your name, O Lord, from the depths of the pit; you heard my plea, ‘Do not close your ear to my cry for help!’ You came near when I called on you; you said, ‘Do not fear.’”—Lamentations 3:55-57 (ESV)
Like most of you reading this devotional, there have been many highs and lows, seasons, blessings, and tragedies in my life.

Currently, I find myself walking through a lengthy valley with an uncertain future. It is easy to spiral in the wrong direction, repeating questions of “Why me?” or “Why now?” or “Why this?” and of course, the ever-important questions like, “Did I make the wrong choice?” or “Did I cause this to happen?” One can’t go through a rough patch without trying to assign blame.

These negative thoughts and pesky questions go nowhere. They occupy time and space that could be filled with God’s blessings. But it was one of these mornings walking through this undesired valley when I received the tiniest blessings which spoke to me of our great God. I was sitting outside in the space where I often go to meet God, read the Bible, sing praises, and pray. But this time, I had not retreated to the porch to find God. Instead, I went to my sacred space to escape being in the valley. I wanted something to feel normal as I gathered my thoughts and prepared for the rest of the day. But my mind was not in a good place, and my heart ached even more.

That is when it happened: A gentle breeze and a colorful dragonfly floated by. The first songs of the Carolina Wren called out. Another breeze brought a yellow butterfly zigging in and out. My heart and mind quickly remembered: God made these creatures. He still creates, establishes His will, and performs miracles. Everything is in His hands, including me.

In Scripture, we find stories of many people who walked through valleys they did not request. Job had everything taken from him, but he chose to praise God through the storm and trust Him through the trials. After those dark times were over, God blessed Job with even more wonderful gifts. Read the Bible book of Job for the full story. Elijah, fearing for his life, fled, and God gave him instructions on where to go to meet Him. What happened? A mountain was torn apart, and an earthquake rattled the rocks, and a fire emerged. But God was not there in the disasters; He was in a gentle breeze that came to Elijah. Read 1 Kings 19:1-12 for Elijah’s story. And how about Moses? He didn’t ask to be stranded in the desert with no food. What happened? God heard the cries for food and provided daily manna. Read Exodus 16 for this story about Moses. And what about Paul and Silas? They didn’t ask to be imprisoned for their beliefs. But what did they do? They praised God, and they were freed. Read Acts 16:16-40 for Silas and Paul’s full story.

There are many more examples of people in the Bible overcoming disasters far worse than my own. But they were never abandoned. God provided for each of them. He will provide for me. Walking through the valley, God will comfort me, He will guide me, He will provide. I didn’t choose this valley, but I will choose to see God’s hand in it. I choose to lean in and listen. I choose to open my eyes to God’s blessings. I choose to rely on His strength and not worry about being able to do it all. He is with me.

In closing, I’d like for you to meditate on this Bible verse. Psalm 23:4 (ESV) says, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

Let’s Pray:

Dear Heavenly Father,

My heart hurts at times. I did not choose this valley, but You have chosen it for me. I know You will be by my side through it all and provide for me. Remind me each day You are near. Help me to understand and feel Your peace each day.

In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection #1: “Peacespeaker” (Live from Prague)” by Heritage Singers. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Psalm 23” by Kathy Troccoli. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Hills and Valleys” by Tauren Wells. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Terry Overton is a retired university professor of educational and school psychology. She has an Ed.D. in Special Education and a Ph.D. in Psychology. 

Her professional experience includes teaching public school, teaching at the university level, and being a college dean.

She has two children, seven grandchildren, and one great granddaughter.

Her previous writing and publication experiences include textbook and journal articles in the fields of special education and school psychology. She now seeks to answer God’s call to share the good news and grow the church by writing Christian books and devotionals.

Over the years, Terry’s books have won the Mom’s Choice Award, Christian Indie Award, Firebird Book Awards, American Writing Winner Awards, Bookfest Winner Awards, Pencraft Award, Reader Views Silver Reviewers Award, and International Book Award Finalist. Her writing examines real world events with a Christian worldview. She enjoys writing for young children, middle grade readers, YA fiction, and adult level novels.

Terry’s background in teaching adults and children shine through her stories that often include a character with educational or learning challenges. Her Christmas series, The Oddball Ornaments, features a box of misfit ornaments who first learn the meaning of Christmas and then discover the meaning of forgiveness. In The Underground Book Readers series, one of the main characters is on the autism spectrum yet is one of the leaders of the group of teens. Book one of a new series, The Messiah Brigade, features an awkward middle school nerd who helps his school turn around a bully gang of kids. Adoption and family issues are the focus of her new book, Charlotte McMaster and the Messenger Angel.

Terry lives in Texas and enjoys reading, taking pictures for devotional posts on social media, visiting with her family, paying golf, and writing.

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Connect with Terry:
Website: https://www.authorterryoverton.com
Blog: https://terryovertonbooks.com
LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/overtont