The Valley | Thoughts on Hard Times | See Caption

When you hear the word "valley," what do you think about? Have you been through one? Here are my thoughts and some artwork I created to go along with it.

Typically, I’ve heard the term used as a 'low point' in life. Even though I’ve seen some beautiful views in nature of these low points on earth. Maybe there is beauty in them.Without them, how could we see the mountain? Without the valleys to climb in life, how could we reach the peak of that mountain? Without the bad, how would we even know what is good? Without my year-long depression, I wouldn’t be as thankful as I am today.

If you’ve been following my journey, you’d know I went through a rough season last year. I’m not afraid or ashamed to tell my story of depression and how Jesus showed me His love, but I’ll spare the details for this post. But I did learn a lot from a hopeless season. In fact, now I say I’m thankful for the valley. It’s made me appreciate and find joy in things that didn’t matter before. Maybe I’m just thankful to be through a tough time, even though I’m sure there are more to come. And really everyday we can find struggles.

If you've read this far, I want to leave you with this. Your pain matters, it is hard, and it will shape you into someone new. I’d say it will form you into who you were created to be. Unique and loved by God with a plan and purpose for your life. Seek Him and let the valleys come, there is beauty in them, even if you can’t see it yet. Psalm 23:4a