It's In the Valleys I Grow

Sometimes life seems hard to bear,
Full of sorrow, trouble and woe
It’s then I have to remember
That it’s in the valleys I grow.

If I always stayed on the mountain top
And never experienced pain,
I would never appreciate God’s love
And would be living in vain.

I have so much to learn
And my growth is very slow,
Sometimes I need the mountain tops,
But it’s in the valleys I grow.

I do not always understand
Why things happen as they do,
But I am very sure of one thing.
My Lord will see me through.

My little valleys are nothing
When I picture Christ on the cross
He went through the valley of death;
His victory was Satan’s loss.

Forgive me Lord, for complaining
When I’m feeling so very low.
Just give me a gentle reminder
That it’s in the valleys I grow.

Continue to strengthen me, Lord
And use my life each day
To share your love with others
And help them find their way.

Thank you for valleys, Lord
For this one thing I know
The mountain tops are glorious
But it’s in the valleys I grow!

© Jane Eggleston

Contemplating...

I'm sitting outside today, thinking about things that happen in our lives that we have no control over. Things that other people do that affect us in a dramatic way, and how frustrating it is to not be able to do anything to stop or prevent it. Several things have happened lately that are weighing heavily on my mind and my heart.

It's difficult to not question why, why me. Why am I chosen to carry such burdens, when everyone else around me seems so carefree? I know that we don't see into the lives of others as we do our own. I know that there are many people around me that are carrying more heartbreaking burdens than I am. But my pain is what is real to me. My fears are real to me. My daily struggle is to not allow my circumstances to get me down - to send me into a downward spiral of depression and self-pity. I refuse to let that happen.

I know that my God is a loving God, and I know that He will see me through. There will be lessons learned, wisdom gained, and new paths to take. It's just a slow, slow process. But I will learn. I will grow. I will rise above it.