Monday, April 28, 2008 . 7:10 AM
“Even though I walk through
The valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
For you are with me,
Your rod and your staff,
They comfort me.”
~Psalm 23:4~
As I sit through Pastor Kong’s sermon yesterday, the lord minister deeply in my heart. I recognized a certain fear in myself and that is “The Fear of the Valley”. You must be surprised by what did I mean by “The Fear of the Valley”.
I remembered two years ago, I went to Turkey during the summer season for a holiday trip with my sister. And one of the most unforgettable events is the 1 hour Hot Air Balloon ride. We had to get up as early as 5am and travel down to a deep valley in order to have our hot air balloon started. You definitely have to get into your hot air balloon in the valley as hot air rises in a cold atmosphere. The journey was very long. We took about 1hr45min in order to get to the bottom of the valley by a mini bus. It was summer time but when we stepped out of our mini bus, the temperature deep down in the valley was freezing. It was around 10 degree Celsius. Can you imagine how we shiver as we stood there waiting for the balloon to set up.
Well, why do I share about this experience in the valley? To me, I do not like the valley at all! I find it scary. It was surrounded by huge mountains along the side and the sunlight that cast into the valley is very faint. Even though, there is sunlight, it is often cold sunlight because of the surrounding. People who live in the valley do not know the world at the other side of the mountain and they have to travel for hours in other to get their groceries to stock up in their home.
As I read through the scripture, I realize that the valley describe was often so scary like valley of Baca and the valley of the shadow of death and often when I face difficulties in life, I felt like I’m falling into the valley where darkness seem to surround me. Currently, I’m in my third year of studies in NTU. My result was pretty poor and I didn’t manage to get into a good attachment company. I struggle because I felt inferior in my studies especially when there is great competition in results among each other in the university. And when friends started asking about each other grades, I will just keep quiet, hoping that no one would ask me. After sometimes, I realized this build up an unhealthy mindset in me, trying to put in my own effort rather then relying on God’s strength.
However, I thank God for delivering this fear in my studies. As I stepped forward for the ministry section yesterday, God allows me to understand my situation. I saw myself struggling in a deep valley. My mind was filled with so much uncertainty in every step I take and surrounded me was thick cloud of the worldly mentality. I recognized more of the comments from the world rather then listening to the plan that God has for me. I was spiritually blinded. I thought I was managing well in fighting that off, but I was wrong.
The lord shows me the scripture which I have memorized,
“As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of spring; the autumn rains also cover it with pools.”
Psalm 84:6.
The lord asks me this question, “Are you willing to make the valley into a place of spring?” He has a great plan for me; there is no worry about my future or whether I’m able to get honors in my studies. God is more interested to mould me in my character. He wanted me to surrender wholly my studies upon him and put my trust in his plan. Only then will I find delight and strength in him. The journey in the valley is definitely tough and long. But am I able to turn in into a place of spring and know that I’m not alone in it. God is always there with me and only when I listen and walk in his will, I will eventually see the blessing at the other side of the mountain waiting for me!
I remembered two years ago, I went to Turkey during the summer season for a holiday trip with my sister. And one of the most unforgettable events is the 1 hour Hot Air Balloon ride. We had to get up as early as 5am and travel down to a deep valley in order to have our hot air balloon started. You definitely have to get into your hot air balloon in the valley as hot air rises in a cold atmosphere. The journey was very long. We took about 1hr45min in order to get to the bottom of the valley by a mini bus. It was summer time but when we stepped out of our mini bus, the temperature deep down in the valley was freezing. It was around 10 degree Celsius. Can you imagine how we shiver as we stood there waiting for the balloon to set up.
Well, why do I share about this experience in the valley? To me, I do not like the valley at all! I find it scary. It was surrounded by huge mountains along the side and the sunlight that cast into the valley is very faint. Even though, there is sunlight, it is often cold sunlight because of the surrounding. People who live in the valley do not know the world at the other side of the mountain and they have to travel for hours in other to get their groceries to stock up in their home.
As I read through the scripture, I realize that the valley describe was often so scary like valley of Baca and the valley of the shadow of death and often when I face difficulties in life, I felt like I’m falling into the valley where darkness seem to surround me. Currently, I’m in my third year of studies in NTU. My result was pretty poor and I didn’t manage to get into a good attachment company. I struggle because I felt inferior in my studies especially when there is great competition in results among each other in the university. And when friends started asking about each other grades, I will just keep quiet, hoping that no one would ask me. After sometimes, I realized this build up an unhealthy mindset in me, trying to put in my own effort rather then relying on God’s strength.
However, I thank God for delivering this fear in my studies. As I stepped forward for the ministry section yesterday, God allows me to understand my situation. I saw myself struggling in a deep valley. My mind was filled with so much uncertainty in every step I take and surrounded me was thick cloud of the worldly mentality. I recognized more of the comments from the world rather then listening to the plan that God has for me. I was spiritually blinded. I thought I was managing well in fighting that off, but I was wrong.
The lord shows me the scripture which I have memorized,
“As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of spring; the autumn rains also cover it with pools.”
Psalm 84:6.
The lord asks me this question, “Are you willing to make the valley into a place of spring?” He has a great plan for me; there is no worry about my future or whether I’m able to get honors in my studies. God is more interested to mould me in my character. He wanted me to surrender wholly my studies upon him and put my trust in his plan. Only then will I find delight and strength in him. The journey in the valley is definitely tough and long. But am I able to turn in into a place of spring and know that I’m not alone in it. God is always there with me and only when I listen and walk in his will, I will eventually see the blessing at the other side of the mountain waiting for me!
God Bless you!
Love,
Si Jia
Love,
Si Jia