Devotions with Pastor Jerry Schmid

MOUNTAIN To valley - valley To MOUNTAIN

Mark 11:22-25 Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours. But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.”

All life is a journey along a pathway. A pathway that may have been traveled by many others but for you it is for that moment in time, your first. God is still God and never has or will He change, but for you each step, each breath, each sight and sound is new and unique. The sun still rises and sets, each moment ticks by the day, but what is different today, this moment, is you and how you experience God’s creation and His plan for you on the pathway to perfecting you as His Holy creation, to restore and renew your relationship with Him. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Our journey down the pathway of life takes us from valley to mountain top, then mountain top to valley, over and over again while all along the way experiencing each one with new challenges. Some we would rather not have experienced, and others we would love to linger in the blessing. But, once again God has a plan to take all things and manifest them into, you’re becoming one step further down the pathway toward perfection and Holiness than you were the in the steps before.

There will always be another mountain, another valley conquest. As you pass through the valley focus your faith: I will lift up my eyes to the hills— From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. So when all these things begin to happen, stand and look up, for your salvation is near!” (Psalm 121:1-3)

God does not change; He loves you and always will, just as you are. Governments, Pandemics, valleys and mountain experiences all come and will go, But God is constant “Have faith in God”. He will see you through. And as you traverse up the mountain remember to look around at the view of the valley God brought you through.
Pastor Jerry