You Have to Learn in the Valley

(Read Philippians 1)

Whenever you’re feeling flat, just talk with someone who is full of faith and is a light for Christ. In Paul’s letter to the Romans, he includes seven spiritual gifts: perceiving, serving, teaching, encouraging, giving, ruling, and mercy. I think my friend (A) is blessed with every one of them. He is the lead Pastor of a local church. Several weeks ago he expressed interest in sharing his story, and we finally caught up yesterday on a zoom call. The conversation had so many teaching moments but also contained an abundance of humility and wit (we’ll talk about that later). (A) and his wife have been friends with my wife and me since we joined the church four years ago — so the conversation was just an extension of our relationship and wasn’t awkward in the least. (A) is a warm, magnetic person who communicated wisdom, transparency, and sincerity in our interview. It was what I was hoping for.

(A) grew up in a home immersed with God and the Bible. “I don’t remember life before God,” he said. His Dad was a Pastor and church was a family thing. He continued, “When I was 7 or 8, I started responding to God’s promises. I had a basic understanding at that time and I clearly remember opening my heart to the Lord during VBS (Vacation Bible School).” (A) clarified that while we’re saved once and for all by the grace of God, there were three occasions in his life when he recognized transformations by God’s presence.

“There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
Proverbs 18:24

It’s sad, but sometimes friends and family will disappoint us. Through life, friends come and go. Families argue and split over trivial things like politics and even religion. Jesus is the friend “who sticks closer than a brother.” It’s Jesus, not the closest of friends, who will really save us. The three men in Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, discovered their true “brother” when forced to walk through the hottest furnace of their intended executions. As they were singing and dancing in the fire, it was King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, the man who sent them there in the first place, who said there was a fourth person with them who looked like the Son of God.

“As a teenager, my second awareness happened at summer church camp,” (A) said. “I put a stick in the fire to come to Jesus.” He didn’t explain the significance, but I took it as a symbolic gesture whereby there is some kind of purging your old self, forgiving people who have sinned against you, and becoming a burning believer for God. “I have put multiple sticks in the fire throughout my life,” (A) chuckled.

“By early adulthood the faith I had, became my own. I recognized a purpose for my life.” I told (A) that I’ve always enjoyed moments when God peels back a layer of truth, to give us a closer look at the full picture. “The truth I understood for all these years fit into place,” (A) added. “Why am I here? What am I going to do with my life? I wasn’t exactly sure how, but I knew I wanted to help others pursue the Gospel.” God was working His plan through my friend.

“Weather tonight: dark. Turning partly light by morning.” — George Carlin

“I figured a good place to start was Bible College. God grew my faith deeply during this time. I never had the Damascus calling, like Paul, to serve as a Pastor, but I knew I had a deep passion to help lead people to faith, to follow Jesus.” Then (A) surprised me. “There was a time when I wanted to be a standup comedian, a la George Carlin or Steve Martin.” We joked that he still displays a bit of that showmanship in his sermons. He replied, “Yes, and sometimes more than people might want to hear.” With the straight face of a deadpan comic, he dropped, “As a child, I had a drug problem. Every Sunday, my parents drug me to church.”

I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:6

Salvation happens as soon as we accept Jesus, but the the process of becoming more like Christ is a journey. It’s not done in one day. It’s a lifelong process that continues through the peaks and valleys.

I didn’t realize at first, that verse 6 of Philippians 1 says “He” not “me” has begun a good work, so we can trick ourselves with thoughts of being in control with our good works, but it’s always God working His plan through us. It is God who will change us. It’s God who sees the perfection of our completed self. We don’t know God’s plans for us, but we know His promise of daily bread for our needs. There are many times when we don’t understand what we’re going through and it’s especially in those times when we need to ask for His help in our lives.

“In the late ‘90’s I almost stepped away from the ministry. My wife and I got involved with planting a church,” (A) told me. I got a strong sense that it was messy. “I was burned out, we had two young kids and we were so busy working at this plant church.” (A) knowingly smiled, “I also had expectations of everyone being nice.” He knew the rude reality of the business world but expected something different from a church community. But then again, the Bible is full of stories of churches experiencing this and (A) admitted, “I should have been more realistic.”

As people say, stuff happens. Our world-changing dreams fade into getting to the weekend. Making a difference sometimes gets transformed into making a salary.

“What else would I do?” (A) asked rhetorically. “I might have been resisting God.” His wife was a guidepost for him during this season. She reminded him that preaching was his purpose. Jokingly, he said, “I thought about selling cars but I prayed, prayed, prayed, and fasted. Then God in His amazing plan opened up a new opportunity. I was offered a position at a new church,” (where he is still preaching now). We don’t like going through these dark times, but God works His miracles in them. Our perseverance through our doubts refines us and make us stronger. “I know this time made me a better Pastor.” I would add these trials also made my friend and his family better Christians too. “You can’t learn on the mountain; you have to learn in the valley.”

We are all a part of God’s plan and therefore are works in progress. I think (A) is one of the best preachers I’ve ever seen. His messages are not only theologically perfect, but he explains the most complex Scripture with amazing clarity, insight, and humor. And yet, even Pastors grow. “A while back, someone reminded me of a sermon I gave about 10 years ago. It wasn’t offensive or blasphemous, but man I would never preach that way now,” he smiled.

“Who is Jesus to you?” I asked.

“Of course, He’s my Savior and Salvation, but He’s also my best friend. A loyal, faithful, and always someone I can count on, friend. He’s big enough for all my complaints.” We talked about when Christians worry that they’re not following Jesus the right way or they’re worried they’re not good enough to go to Heaven. (A)’s response, “How would your life be if it wasn’t for Jesus? Would it be different?” I can’t picture a single believer at their lowest point saying their life would be the same with or without Jesus.

This is the day the Lord has made;
let’s rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

Our attitude is a choice. I would love to say that when I wake up every morning I’m rejoicing, but some mornings it takes me time. Not (A). He cited Psalm 118 as a regular reference point in his daily life. We should wake up every day greeting God: Thank you God for this morning.

(A) finds hope in the Lord. “I know His word is true,” he declared. “Eternity is real and we’re just passing through. I find complete and everlasting hope in the eternal Christ.”

A very close friend of mine recently received bad news from a medical procedure. Over the holiday weekend, we talked at length about his situation, his hope, his faith, and his outlook. I believe he’s going to be OK, but he’s got a long road ahead. Towards the end of our conversation, he looked at me and smiled, “Thank you. You just reminded me that I’m free through Christ.” There is that complete and everlasting hope. My friend was fed that day.

We should allow ourselves time to deal with the pain of things that are going wrong. We should also thank God for the daily bread he’s providing for us now. No matter our condition, we have what we need for today.

(A) is an amazing leader, disciple of Christ, and teacher. You can see the work of God through everything about him except maybe for his singing. “In my life, I do my best to let His light shine through my life,” (A) concluded. His show of spiritual gifts is a testimony to that statement. His story reminds me that we should not expect our journeys to be smooth. Like in sports, we learn more from our losses than our wins. We learn from our valleys. As a Pastor, he points me toward things I hadn’t known before. As a friend, he shares what his life experiences are like, and as a follower of Jesus, he shows me that we are not finished until we are called home.

“End of construction. Thank you for your patience.”
Ruth Bell Graham

Key Application:

1. We have different kinds of friends. We can’t be the same friend to everyone but are you the kind of friend that sticks closer than a brother? What’s stopping you? Seek to be this kind of Christ-filled friend.
2. “When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life so that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice.” — What is your reaction to this ancient Proverb? It’s not really important what the world thinks, but pay close attention to who is rejoicing at the end. We rejoice because the construction is finished. God’s plan brings us home.
3. Read Philippians 1. Take note of bumps, twists, and turns in your life. If you can look at them from up above, you might see a clearer picture or even a plan where they’re all coming together. Pray for strength, clarity, and endurance to carry you through.

Where else in your life can you live out the teachings of Christ? Look for next week’s Devotion.