Lord Of The Valley, Lord Of The Mountainside

“After He had sent them away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone…”

For all intents and purposes, men build far more cities and towns in valleys than they do on mountainsides. Jesus could have prayed anywhere, but we are told that He climbed a mountainside and there He found Himself alone. Perhaps because men are less inclined to climb mountainsides, and more inclined to settle in valleys.

It is not that we cannot pray in the valley. We can. But we are not meant to settle there. If we stay in the valley, we only see ourselves surrounded by looming obstacles. We see only the crookedness of the path, rather than the straightened portion stretching out ahead, because we cannot see what lies in the distance, we only see what lies directly before us. Indeed, there are times in which we need to examine and ponder what lies directly before us, yet to dwell there too long is to become blinded by the “now” and have no vision of the “to be.”

Thus, there are times when we may find ourselves in the valley, pondering and praying about the “now.” And there are times when we will need to climb the mountainside and find ourselves alone, praying for a vision of “to be.” Yet we are not meant to build a city in the valley, nor make a home on the mountainside. 

We are meant to dwell with Christ, Who is Lord of both the valley and the mountainside.

(Matt 14:22,23) Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowds. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by Himself to pray. Later that night, He was there alone…

(Ps 23:4,5) 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. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

(John 16:32,33) “Look, an hour is coming and has already come when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and you will leave Me all alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!”