Florida seems like a lifetime ago! My husband and I were in Florida this last February when the news networks were just starting to cover COVID and we were assured it was nothing to really be too concerned about.聽
Looking back now I can feel like Florida was a bit of a 鈥渕ountain top experience鈥� before coming back to Canada to begin social distancing and self-isolation! Have you ever felt like that too? Went from everything was unbelievably great to how in the world did I get here?
In Mark 9 we read of Jesus taking Peter, James and John with him up a high mountain where Jesus was transfigured before them. Jesus鈥� clothes became dazzling white and Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus and was talking with him. A cloud appears and the disciples here a loud voice that said, 鈥淭his is my Son, whom I love, Listen to Him!鈥� Then just as suddenly the disciples didn鈥檛 see anyone with them except Jesus. Talk about a mountain top experience!
When they made it back down the mountain they were greeted with a large crowd and the teachers of the law arguing with the other disciples. Jesus asked them what they were arguing about and a man in the crowd spoke up and said, 鈥淭eacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit鈥�.I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not鈥�. (Mark 9:17-18). Jesus asked the father to bring the boy to him at which point the father then said, 鈥淚f you can do anything, take pity on us and help us鈥�.
Peter, James and John who had just witnessed the amazing transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain top now found themselves in the middle of great turmoil and confusion. This is exactly when Jesus responds, 鈥淚f you can? Everything is possible for one who believes鈥�. The boy鈥檚 father immediately exclaimed, 鈥業 do believe, help me overcome my unbelief鈥�. As the crowd begins running to the scene, Jesus rebukes the impure spirit and it came out of the boy. The crowd now sees the boy lying absolutely still on the ground so that many thought the boy was dead. But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet and the boy stood up!
This is a perfect example of how quickly we can feel like we have gone from a mountain top experience to a valley. Suddenly everything in our world changes and the time we experienced the power of God seems like a distant memory and we are now in a valley of defeat. However God鈥檚 power is also shown there!
How do we walk in this valley? I believe there are a few things we can learn from God鈥檚 Word:
- Recognize you can鈥檛 do it on your own no matter how strong or religious you are (the disciples couldn鈥檛 cast out the unclean spirit) we need the power of God in our lives
- Admit where you are 鈥撯�楲ord I believe, help my unbelief鈥�
- Know that Jesus is in your midst and will provide the answer, even if we have to wait or things even seem to appear worse before they get better. (the boy actually appeared as dead right after Jesus had cast the spirit out)
- Prayer is vital! As Jesus said in Mark 9:23 鈥楨verything is possible for one who believes鈥�
Finally, I have come to learn that 鈥渕ountain tops鈥� don鈥檛 last forever but thankfully, neither do the valleys! We can trust God to show Himself mightily in both places!
