“Up!” said my one-year-old niece Azoria, while holding both arms straight in the air. She locked eyes with me, waiting for me to obey her one-word command to pick her up.

“Awww,” I said, grinning, instantly melting. Zo-Zo has that effect on me.

Kyla and Kaiah, our teen daughters, have been teaching the adorable tot to say “Up” when she wants to be held. Yesterday, Zo-Zo said it to me for the first time and I loved it.

Instantly, I scooped her up in my arms, unable to resist.

This made me think about something: wouldn’t it be wonderful if, when we found ourselves in a valley of life, we could say “Up” and be instantly transitioned out of that low place?

But we all know it isn’t quite that easy to get out of life’s valleys. Just because we want God to pull us up, He doesn’t always do so instantaneously. However, we can know without any doubt that He will pull us up in His perfect timing.

Before that ultimate rescue happens, however, we still don’t have to worry. You know why? Because He will take care of us and sustain us in the middle of the valley. He’ll keep us from being destroyed by the adversity that comes our way.

God is so wonderful and faithful, isn’t He?

This makes me think about a scriptural passage I love, which is found in Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV. And it says, "Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

The book of Lamentations, which is a collection of sorrowful poems and songs (attributed to the prophet Jeremiah by some scholars), laments and mourns the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. It grieves the calamity of Judah, as God’s chosen people were exiled from their homeland and held captive by enemies.

During this valley season of displacement, loss and grief, the writer of Lamentations found something to celebrate anyway. He realized that the rebellious people’s survival was only because of the Lord’s love, mercy and faithfulness— not their own goodness. Despite their unfaithfulness, God’s faithfulness never failed.

I know I can testify to that. He is faithful in every circumstance. He is merciful in every way!

In the first part of Lamentations 3:22, when the writer says “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,” that word consumed is the Hebrew word tamam (pronounced taw-mam'). It means to be finished in the sense of coming to an end, or ceasing to exist at all.

In other words, the writer was saying, had it not been for the Lord, he and all the people of Judah would have been finished, utterly destroyed, ceasing to exist. It was only by God’s amazing grace that they were still standing.

That right there ought to make you want to praise.

You are still here; still standing; still praising; still in love with Jesus; still in your right mind; still blessed; still favored; still anointed; still on the path to destiny; and still chosen and beloved by the Lord, all because of His grace.

Without Him, you would be overwhelmed and overtaken by trouble. Without Him you would have given up. Without Him the sickness would have taken you out. Without Him that devastation would have killed your spirit. Without Him Satan would have destroyed you.

But God, who is rich in mercy and loyal to His word, has always intervened in your circumstances and preserved you.

And here’s something else to meditate on: if you are in a valley season right now, this is not the end of the story. This is not the end of the road. This is not your final destination. Your valley is not your permanent residence. Things are going to change. God will pull you up.

As I shared on my podcast today, God will bring you out!

To affirm this truth, I’m stirring Psalm 40:2 KJV into your cup of inspiration. It says, “He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.

As you drink down the contents of your cup, by faith, declare that this verse will be your testimony. You will look back on this situation and say with a grateful heart, “God brought me up out of a horrible pit.”

In the meantime, cling to the promise of 1 Peter 5:10 NIV, which says, “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”

Now let’s pray.

God, in times when I feel discouraged because of the deep valleys of life I find myself in, please help me remember that You are with me, working for me, developing my character, and preserving me. And at the appointed time, You will lift me up. I believe my deliverance is coming. I trust You, Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may today's cup of inspiration uplift, encourage, and empower you!

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