Life’s Peaks and Valleys: Finding God in Every Season

Life’s Peaks and Valleys: Finding God in Every Season

Life is a wild ride, isn’t it? Peaks and valleys. Highs and lows. Moments where everything feels like it’s coming together—and others where it feels like it’s all falling apart. The question is: how do we keep our faith steady when the ground beneath us shifts?

Let’s talk about this idea of mountaintop moments and valley realities.

Picture this: You’re standing on a mountaintop. The view takes your breath away. The air is crisp, the world stretches out before you, and for a moment, it feels like anything is possible. That’s what those mountaintop moments in our faith feel like—times when God feels so near, so real, so tangible.

In Mark 9, we see Jesus take Peter, James, and John up a mountain. What happens? Jesus is transfigured—His glory shines brighter than anything they’ve ever seen. Moses and Elijah show up, and it’s this incredible, holy moment. Peter doesn’t want to leave! He’s like, “Let’s build some shelters and stay here.”

But life isn’t lived on the mountaintop. We all have to come back down.

The valley is where the challenges are waiting. It’s where bills need paying, relationships need mending, and health struggles feel overwhelming. But here’s the truth: both the mountain and the valley are part of our spiritual journey.

We need those mountaintop moments with God—they refresh us, re-center us, and remind us of who He is. But we also grow in the valleys. That’s where our faith is tested, where dependence on God is formed, and where our trust becomes real.

Here’s the thing, though: mountaintop moments don’t just happen by accident. Just like you plan a vacation to recharge your body, you’ve got to be intentional about seeking God’s presence to recharge your soul.

It’s going to cost something—maybe it’s time, maybe it’s stepping away from distractions, maybe it’s fasting. But the reward? Oh, the reward is life-changing:

1. Clarity – You see things from God’s perspective.

2. Felt Presence – You feel His love and power like never before.

3. Rest & Reprieve – The storm might still rage, but your soul is steady.

4. Eyes on Jesus – Your eyes shift from your problems to the One who solves them.

Contrast that with the valley, where:

1. Difficulties - Challenges feel overwhelming.

2. Felt Pressure - The weight of life feels crushing.

3. Reality Check - You’re forced to confront hard realities.

4. Eyes on Circumstances - Your focus can drift to the immediate, not the eternal.

But here’s the good news: those mountaintop moments equip us for the valley. They fill us with strength, perspective, and hope.

Take Elijah in 1 Kings 19. After a massive spiritual victory, he’s running scared and ready to quit. But God meets him—not in the earthquake, not in the fire, but in a gentle whisper. That encounter renews Elijah’s purpose and sends him back into the valley ready to go.

Sometimes, it’s our desperation that drives us up the mountain. Maybe you’ve been there—like the father in Mark 9 who cries out, “I believe; help my unbelief!” God meets us in those honest, raw moments.

Here’s the bottom line: whether you’re on the mountaintop or in the valley, God is there. The mountaintop is just as real as the valley. Both are vital parts of your story.

So how do we embrace this rhythm of peaks and valleys?

1. Know where you are. Are you in a season of victory or struggle? Acknowledge it—it’s okay to be real.

2. Prioritize God’s presence. When was the last time you really talked to Jesus? Not a quick prayer, but a deep conversation?

3. Make sacrifices for spiritual growth. Set aside time, fast, or attend a retreat. Be intentional about seeking Him.

4. Anchor yourself in truth. What did God teach you on the mountaintop? Hold onto that when the valley feels overwhelming.

5. Pursue God in every season. Don’t wait for a crisis—build a lifestyle of seeking Him daily.

6. Lean into Scripture. The Psalms are packed with both joy and lament. Let them guide your prayers and remind you of His faithfulness.

I love how David puts it in Psalm 57. He’s hiding in a cave, fearing for his life, but what does he do? He declares:
"My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing and make music. Your love reaches to the heavens; your faithfulness to the skies."

Even in the valley, David chooses praise.

So wherever you are today—on a peak, in a valley, or somewhere in between—know this: you’re not walking alone. God is with you. Others have been where you are. And every step you take, whether uphill or down, is shaping you into the person God created you to be.

Let’s embrace the journey, trust His presence, and live lives marked by faith—on the mountain and in the valley.