This is what the Lord says: “Because the Arameans think the Lord is a god of the hills and not a god of the valleys, I will deliver this vast army into your hands, and you will know that I am the Lord.” 1 Kings 20:28
When we’re going through difficult times, sometimes it might feel like
God has deserted us, but there’s something to be learned from today’s verse. Our God is the God of the valleys.
In 1 Kings 20, we find the account of an Aramean king who wanted to defeat Israel. First a battle took place in the mountains. The Arameans were soundly defeated, even though they were a much bigger force. When it came time to decide what to do next, Aramean officials gave their king some ill advice. They believed that Israel’s God was only a god of the hills, not the valleys. They said, “If we fight them on the plains, surely we will be stronger than they” (1 Kings 20:23).
As you can imagine, they were dead wrong. God empowered the Israelites to overthrow the Arameans once again as they fought in the plains, giving us a powerful image for his nature. You see, God is not just involved in the high times of life. He is with us always, empowering us to overcome in the low times too. He is God of the hills and the valleys!
If you’re going through a difficult time, remember this story. We live in a fallen world, and we sometimes walk through difficult times, but God is always with us, empowering us to go through. God will never place you in a valley. But when you find yourself in one, you can trust him to help you through it!