Looking for Victory in the Valley (Part 1 of 4)
By Justin Pratt
Imagine returning home after an extended absence, yearning for the people you love more than anything in the world. Your heart swells with excitement, and the anticipation of embracing your family is beyond words. As you crest the last hill, the smell of smoke fills your nostrils, and you look out over a landscape that was once so familiar. However, your joy quickly fades as you take in the devastating scene before you. The city you left behind, where your loved ones reside, is now a smoldering expanse of ruins and ashes. The once-familiar streets are now a desolate, charred wasteland littered with the blackened remnants of what used to be. The only sounds are the distant crackle of embers and the mournful sigh of the wind blowing through the wreckage. You scan the horizon, your mind racing with growing dread. “Where are my family, my friends, the people I left here?” The city, once vibrant with life—filled with the laughter of children and the sounds of neighbors chatting about their evening plans—is now empty and devoid of any signs of life. You realize that your loved ones are nowhere in sight, and the fate of those you cherish is unknown. Your world shatters, your mind goes numb, and you stand frozen, overwhelmed by an unexpected wave of despair.
This description is not a fictional portrayal from the latest Hollywood movie; it reflects a real moment that David experienced when he returned home to the city of Ziklag with his army. In 1 Samuel 30, we read about the Amalekites, who raided the city during their absence, took their families captive, and burned the town to the ground. As if constantly fleeing from Saul wasn’t enough to dishearten him, David now faced an even greater challenge: losing everything he held dear, all while grappling with the added burden of his army wanting to stone him. These compounded calamities created a perfect storm of discouragement. In that moment of overwhelming grief, he wept until he had no strength left, and the Bible tells us that David was “greatly distressed.” It’s clear that David found himself in a valley—a Valley of Discouragement.
Discouragement is a very real experience. It can stem from our own choices, unexpected life events for which we are unprepared, or the burden of circumstances that leave us feeling alone and confused, much like David. Each of us will encounter this unwelcome visitor of discouragement at some point. While occasional feelings of demoralization are inevitable, how we respond to these feelings is a choice we can make. How can we experience discouragement without allowing it to define us? Is it possible to face life’s challenges without letting them undermine our faith? I believe it is possible. The key to finding victory in the valley and overcoming life’s low points lies within the account of David’s battle in the Valley of Discouragement in Ziklag.
First, David finds strength in the Lord. This can be challenging, especially during times when those you expect to support you are absent. In those moments, it’s just you and God. Ultimately, all you have is what your heart and past experiences tell you about God’s faithfulness.
When we find ourselves in a valley, it is crucial to draw our strength from God. 1 Samuel 30:6 tells us that during this challenging time, David “encouraged himself in the Lord.” While we don’t know the exact words David used or how he lifted himself up, we can recognize that he had a deep reservoir of past experiences to draw from. His victories from previous valleys and triumphs from earlier battles served as reminders that if God has done it before, He can certainly do it again.
We all cherish mountaintop experiences, but Oswald Chambers said it best: “We see God’s glory on the mountain, but we see God’s faithfulness in the valley.” If you find yourself in a valley of discouragement today, it is essential, as Christians, to strengthen our relationship with God. This way, we can establish a foundation of strength to rely upon when the unexpected valleys of discouragement arise. Strength for today’s trials is not built in the heat of current pressures; rather, it is developed each day in preparation for the unknown challenges that may come tomorrow. Remember, the first step to finding victory in the valley is to draw from your past experiences and use them to encourage yourself in the Lord. I hope you’ll join me again next week as we explore another step toward achieving victory in the valley.
