A reason to be optimistic?
Have you ever been in the valley (no, I’m not talking about South Texas)? Ever been in a position where you think that you can’t get any lower? Many people find themselves there at different times in their lives and their reactions are all different. Some get into the valley and figure there is no way out and so they stay there. Others realize that if they are in a valley there must be a peak on the other end where the good will come. Whether they get to the peak may be questioned but they will do whatever they can to get to the peak and out of the valley.
Around me I’m seeing many valleys. My church is in a valley right now. We have dear church members who are looking at crossing the river real soon. We have had members who thought they were crossing the river when God said not yet. These folks are pillars in the church and as they suffer we all suffer. However, one thing they will say and I agree with is that on the other side of the valley is a peak. It may not be what we expected it to be, but it is there and it is good. Why? Because God is there just as he is in the valley.
We as a state convention are in a valley as well. Some say we need to go a little deeper. Some say we can’t go any deeper. But we are there. However, as we sit in the valley we must decide are we going to stay or are we going after the peak on the other side. I can’t help but believe that soon we will start marching toward that peak. I believe the process has already begun. If Jan is used by God for the short time he is at Dallas, the healing will be in full force within our state offices. I believe that even know God is working in the life of our new Executive Director giving him a God-sized vision for our state and equipping him to lead us on the climb for that peak.
Could we be in the days of Nehemiah rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem? How are we going to be used as individuals in this process? How will we be willing to be used? I’m sure the remnant were tired and skeptical as they survived in and around Jerusalem during the Babylonian Captivity. Now someone comes in and says it is time to rebuild. Do we trust this guy? Do we follow him and do what he says? I’m sure many of them went to work not sure if this task of rebuilding the wall would even get finished? There were some who listened to the nay-sayers, there were many who were discouraged by what they had to say, but they also knew that they were working on something greater than themselves.
How did Jerusalem get to this state? It was because of their sin and refusal to follow their God. They suffered the consequences and now God was starting a new day for them. They were in the valley and God was leading them to the peak through Nehemiah. I see similarities with us as a convention. Can we say that God will use people to bring us out of the valley? We have been hurt, we are skeptical, but maybe God will use these men to accomplish His Kingdom work and help us to be on task for him. There could be a reason to be Optimistic!
