Are You in a Desert or a Valley of Tears?

Last week I wrote about God doing a new thing, about it springing up and God “making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”

God uses these deserts to do His work.  We may look at a desert and see barrenness, lifelessness, hopelessness.

But not with God.  Life and hope spring up in the desert when He is working.  And also in the valley of tears.

In Psalm 84:5-7, God’s pilgrims are described as bringing God’s grace to the desert.  

“Blessed are those whose strength is in you,

    whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.

6 As they pass through the Valley of Baka (weeping),

    they make it a place of springs;

    the autumn rains also cover it with pools.

7 They go from strength to strength,

    till each appears before God in Zion.”

These people of God, who find their strength in Him, are pilgrims on this earth until they get to heaven.  As they pass through the Valley of Baka (which means weeping), they make it a place of springs.  

I think it’s significant to us that it says, “As they pass through the Valley of Baka.”  The implication here is that we pilgrims are going to pass through this Valley.  It’s just one of the destinations we have to visit on our way Home.  We will go through a valley of weeping, but we can bring life.  We can make it a “place of springs” as we pass through.  

Think about this.  You may be in a Valley of weeping.  You may be stuck there (we seem to get stuck in valleys).  But God is still using you to bless other people.  You are making it a place of springs, and you may not even be doing anything special.  You may just be making it a place of springs by your presence.  Just your passing through the valley makes it a place of springs.  

Isn’t that a reassuring thought?  Your difficulties and heartbreaks don’t take you out of the game.  You still have purpose and usefulness in God’s kingdom no matter what struggle you are going through.  You are creating springs for other people just by walking through life.