Psalm 23:4

⁴ Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me.

Mark 1:12-13

¹² Immediately the [Holy] Spirit [from within] drove Him out into the wilderness (desert),

¹³ And He stayed in the wilderness (desert) forty days, being tempted [all the while] by Satan; and He was with the wild beasts, and the angels ministered to Him [continually].

During a youth camp service at Forest Home in the 80’s I had what some call a mountain high experience. While singing the chorus of “Awesome God,” an altar call was given to me and my fellow Gen X-ers.

I didn’t go forward.

Yet, as I stood there listening to the crescendo of the music, looking out at the freshly falling snow, I felt at home in His presence. Amidst the noise, I opened the door of my heart to the One who was gently knocking. In that moment, on a hilltop in Southern California, my soul received the seeds that were sown since childhood. Later that year, however, I entered a dark season of the soul. Walking through a deep, sunless valley, the enemy snatched up what had fallen on the footpath.

I’ve walked through many valleys and wilderness seasons since then. Nearly every decade, construction on this temple of His Spirit seems to come to a screeching halt. At least, from outside the house. Yet on the inside, He’s busy scattering more seeds in the soil of my soul. Deep below the surface, where no one can see, the Word is taking root as mountain high moments give way to valleys. And in due season, I’m faced with counting the cost of following Him through the valley, into the wilderness again.

Surrounded by death and desert and dry bones, I’m continuing to grieve and grumble AND grow in this season. The cost of leaving Egypt to follow Him to the Promised Land has cost far more than I expected. But I’m persevering. And I’m beginning to come up higher; above myself, above the powers and principalities of darkness, to the throne of grace!

Through this valley, I am:

RESTING in Him

LEAD by Him

RESTORED through Him

HONORING His name

WALKING with Him

FEARLESS in Him

PROTECTED & COMFORTED by Him

FEASTING at His table

RECEIVING His honor

ANOINTED in Him

OVERFLOWING in Him

PURSUED by Him

LIVING in His house

Into this wilderness, I am:

DIGESTING the scroll, before speaking

GRATEFUL for the manna He’s providing

SPEAKING to the rock, instead of striking it in anger

EATING locusts and honey, regardless of how crazy I look to others

PREPARING to receive His seed, before sowing into others

CLEARING the way in my heart for Him

MAKING a straight path in Him

FILLING in the valleys in Him

LEVELING the mountains & hills in Him

STRAIGHTENING the curves in Him

SMOOTHING the rough places in Him

It’s time to consider the cost, friends. Jesus is building His Father’s house of prayer – through the valleys and into the wilderness. Are you willing to follow His Spirit, wherever He leads?

Luke 14:28

²⁸ “But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it?

Isaiah 40:3-5

³ Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting,
“Clear the way through the wilderness
    for the Lord!
Make a straight highway through the wasteland
    for our God!
⁴ Fill in the valleys,
    and level the mountains and hills.
Straighten the curves,
    and smooth out the rough places.
⁵ Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed,
    and all people will see it together.
    The Lord has spoken!”^[a]