HOPE IN THE VALLEY

Awe yes. The storms have passed, it’s a few hours for the 49rs to win the Super Bowl, and Valentines Day is just around the corner. Could it be more perfect? Then why am I crying at the drop of a hat? My fatigue seems to have effected every part of my regular routine. I told myself it was because I’m still recovering from being sick. But it wasn’t that. As a good friend shared with me Friday night “ I was in depression”. I just stared at her in disbelief. The next night pastor Dave talked about his depression…and I had ALL the signs of it. I cried and cried and didn’t care anymore of possible embarrassment. After church there was pastor Dave, as if waiting for me. I looked up at him and started crying. Eventually he said “ I’m assuming you’re in depression?’. I told him I guess I was but I don’t know why. He shared words of encouragement and said that I would again have my JOY back. And then he prayed for me. To be honest this was NOT what I wanted to write about, especially since my blogs are usually about JOY. But this is where God has me….in the Valley. I should have known that something was up when God brought to my mind to go back and read a book titled “ Hinds feet for High Places”, a book I vividly remember reading while in college. It’s an allegory about the Chief Shepard and a character named Much-Afraid. She has defective feet that can only stay in the Valley of fear. The Chief Shepard comes to help her climb out of the Valley and bring her to the high tops where she will find JOY everyday. But her guides are called Sorrow and Suffering. Not really the ones I would want to help me but the Chief Shepard said these would be the very best to help her on the journey to the high mountain. And He would never be too far away too. She’s just starting out on the road with her two companions..just like me. I can’t tell you why I’m depressed or how soon I’ll come out of it. But I am confident of one thing; “ For those who grieve He will bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor” ( Isaiah 61:3). So for all of those, or maybe just for one of you, who may be suffering depression for a number of reasons, I’m right there with you…in the Valley..with no set time of when we will be out. Only know we will…it’s called the Valley of Hope for a reason. God has us there, together, but with a purpose…even if we don’t know what it is. That’s ok. Because in the end, just like Much-Afraid, she does end up on top of the mountain sharing JOY everyday with the Chief Shepard..Ok Sorrow and Suffering…I’m ready..how about you?