Valley Vision – “Making Beauty in the Valley” 

Last week, we looked at verses 16 and 18 in 2 Corinthians 4, seeing that one key to walking through the valleys of life is a daily renewal of our relationship with God to help us “fix our gaze” on him. This week, we finish the series by unpacking verse 17 – but that gives us a bit of a problem. Actually, it brings up two problems as we consider “our present troubles”: First, it really doesn’t seem like “our present troubles are small.” Doesn’t that diminish and disregard our very really pain? And second, what, exactly, is “the glory” that is promised that will “vastly outweigh” the troubles that are crushing me now? And is that glory actually satisfying? We wrap up by considering 3 gifts found in valleys.

3 Beautiful Gifts of the Valley

1.  A Testimony No One Can Argue With (2 Corinthians 4:8-10)

• In another famous passage the precedes the one we’ve been studying, Paul reminds us of one of the purposes – and one of the beautiful gifts – of our times “in the valley”: that others might see the presence of Jesus in our lives. The testimony about Jesus that no one can argue with is what they see him doing in us and through us as we walk through dark valleys with him. 
• Displaying joy and happiness when things are good and going well for us is a relatively weak testimony (even when we announce that “all glory goes to God”…). But when we’re joyful and praise God and display a quiet confidence in Christ when we’re in a dark valley, that testimony is irrefutable.

2. You Will See What Others Haven’t Seen (John 14:16-18) some text
   • John writes that Jesus helped prepare his disciples for their lives that would follow his resurrection by promising that he would “come to them” in the person of the Holy Spirit – a presence that they wouldn’t be able to see, but which they would know and recognize because it would be the abiding presence of Jesus himself.
   • The passage is an invitation for us, as Jesus’ followers today, to “see the invisible.” The problem we all have, though, is that we tend to think that “invisible” means “imaginary.” It doesn’t; Jesus is talking about a very real presence – his presence. And it’s only in the valleys that his presence is fully visible in our lives, when we trust God and see things that others can’t see as he works on our behalf.
3. The Hope of “One Day” (2 Corinthians 17b) some text
   • The second half of verse 17 is an unmistakable reference to eternity – a reminder that not every problem is resolved and not every valley ends in this life. But God promises something that will make us forget the valleys and the injustice and pain they bring us.
   • One day, God will set every wrong to right, and as N.T. Wright puts it, “nothing good will be wasted in that place.” Like a Death Valley “super-bloom,” every good seed we’ve planted as a follower of Jesus will bloom, and we’ll be rewarded for all eternity with “ a glory that far outweighs” our valleys.

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE

These passages may provide additional insights related to the subject of this week’s message. All verses are NLT unless otherwise noted.

Psalms 34:18-22; Romans 5:3-5; Colossians 1:24-27; 1 Peter 1:6-7; 1 John 3:1-3; Revelation 21:1-4

Video of the Week: Eternal Life by the Bible Project

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION

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1. As we wrap up the “Valley Vision” series this week, what are your thoughts or questions about the messages? 

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2. Read 2 Corinthians 4:17 again. Are either of the “two problems” with the verse that Pastor Ben mentioned at the beginning of the message something you wrestle with about this passage?  If so, which one, and why? 

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3. How, exactly, is “a testimony no one can argue with” a gift to us as followers of Jesus when we’re struggling in a valley?

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4. Read John 14:16-18 again. As the message said, Jesus is inviting us to “see the invisible” – the invisible presence of his Holy Spirit in our lives. What do we have to do to “see” that presence?  And why is it most visible in the “valleys” of our life?  

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5. When you hear Paul promise us “a glory that vastly outweighs [our present troubles] and will last forever” what, specifically, do you think of?  How does that promise affect your life today? 

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6. God clearly promises to be with us in our valleys. What would you say is one thing that he wants from us in our valleys?  How are you’re doing with that these days?

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