Victory to Valley
For six years, our family lived in Columbus, Georgia. We loved living there and God completed our family as Eli was born there. Ian formed his love for basketball there. Isaiah went through a stage of not wanting to wear anything but black, and he even had a chain wallet at 3 years old. Eric became an ordained minister with The Assemblies of God there, and he started his college degree.
It was a time of learning what close friendships really looked like and growing on our own- with no family around. God invaded my life and completely took over there. Georgia is where I started journaling, reading my Bible every day, and where I realized I could knit words together to form little encouragements. I even had a little spell of crocheting there. I was president of the PTA and I found a love for volunteering at a crisis pregnancy center – this is where I overcame my fear to pray outload for others. Looking back on that time now, there were so many ways God filled our tank there. Just as quickly, though, the enemy tries to empty that tank when you least expect it, because while we were living in Georgia, someone broke into our home.
I remember feeling so violated knowing that someone had come into our home unwelcomed. Someone took what wasn’t theirs. Someone touched our very personal belongings. In one moment of darkness, someone cast fear and had me questioning the 100 moments of light that had already taken place. How could we sleep here? Will they come back? Should we move? What haven’t we done right? Of all things, why couldn’t they take the big box tv with them too?
In 1 Kings 18 & 19 we read of the prophet Elijah experiencing the same deflation after a major victory. He had challenged King Ahab to a “my Daddy is stronger than your daddy” showdown. They were worshipping Baal at the time and Elijah wanted to turn them to the one true God. The challenge: who can call down fire from heaven and who’s god will send it to light up their bull BBQ. The Baal worshippers tried, yet nothing. Elijah stepped up by digging a trench around his BBQ and filling it with water three times. He prayed a short, but faith-filled prayer, and the all-consuming fire fell from heaven engulfing everything, dropping the people to their knees praising, “The Lord, he is God! The Lord, he is God!” What an experience! What a testimony! What a victory!
But Satan didn’t want Elijah to celebrate in victory. Shortly after, King Ahab went to have a pity party with his wife, Jezebel, and in turn she threatened Elijah with death. He was so afraid of the threat that it sent him running away, running for his life.
How easy it is for us to forget what God has done in the past? The confidence and bravery shown in front of the altar at Mount Carmel was quickly deflated. As Elijah sat under a tree in the wilderness, exhausted and discouraged, feeling all alone in his faith, he prayed. He prayed for the Lord to just bring home. As he fell asleep an angel of the Lord came to him and gave Elijah what we all need when we’re discouraged – carbs! And that angel came and gave him carbs twice! Hallelujah! The bread that he needed.
I love that God didn’t shame Elijah for feeling fear or discouragement. Instead, he comforted and nurtured him. Giving him a reassurance that he still had purpose and those past victories were not done vain. God still planned to use them. His Father also reminded him that he was not alone; He had seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees had not bowed to Baal. Elijah still had work to do, and now, he was rested and well nourished.
Just like God sent help and comfort to Elijah, he did the same for us in Georgia. An amazing family in our church owned a restoration company and they completely took care of us and our home. Our homeowner’s insurance replaced the stuff that was stolen and we even had enough to get rid of the old box tv and get our very first flat screen tv. We didn’t have to move, but we did install a security system. We never had a sleepless night because we had really good bedtime family prayers. No angel tapped us on the shoulders, but I’m pretty sure we ate lots of carbs.
If you’ve gone from victory to the valley today. Know that the valley could be a resting place – you’re going to need strength for the journey ahead.