Beyond the Valley’s Facts
Trusting in unseen power is like plugging in a phone when the battery is low; faith connects us to Jesus, who supplies all we need.
Devotional Credit: My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers
Photo Credit: Unsplash
In this reading, Oswald Chambers invites us into the tension between common sense and living faith. He notes that every time we step out in faith, something contrary will appear to challenge it. Common sense is not faith, and faith is not common sense. They occupy different realms. Chambers asks if we can trust Jesus when our common sense fails, when the facts of our lives seem to mock our belief. It is easy to say “I believe” when we are on the mountaintop, but real faith is forged in the valley where facts shout, “It’s impossible.”
Chambers illustrates how our own “programs” of belief are tested. We may declare, “I believe God will meet all my needs,” only to find our provisions running dry. He suggests that such moments reveal whether we will press on in faith or retreat to a lower level of trust. Faith, he says, must be tested and can only become truly ours through conflict. It is in the struggle that faith is strengthened and proven. The question then is not whether tests will come, but how we will respond when they do.
The devotional reminds us that faith is more than intellectual assent; it is a living trust in Jesus. Chambers encourages us to believe steadfastly in Him, confident that all we encounter will develop our faith. The supreme thing is not how we feel but the Person in whom we trust. He notes that there is continual testing in the life of faith, and that the final test is physical death. Yet in every trial, Jesus stands by us. Faith, he writes, is indescribable trust in God, trust that never dreams He will not stand by us.
As we reflect on this, we can thank Oswald Chambers for his courage and clarity. His words help us to see that faith is not a denial of reality but a confidence in Jesus that is strengthened when reality seems to contradict it. He encourages us to live beyond the valley’s facts, to believe that in every testing we can see the glory of God. We are not alone; we are held by the One who is faithful.
Journal Entry – Voice of the Holy Spirit Through Scripture
My beloved, when facts whisper that your faith is misplaced, lift your eyes to Me. I am your faith’s Author and Finisher. I have united you with My Son, and in Him you are more than what you see. When your plans falter and your provisions run low, do not return to self-reliance. You are anchored in the One who supplies all your needs. Trust My presence when common sense seems to contradict My promises.
You are no longer defined by the old life; you are a new creation, alive to God and dead to sin. There is no condemnation for you, for My Spirit dwells in you, testifying that you belong to Me. The testing of your faith produces endurance, and through endurance you become mature and complete. These trials refine your faith like gold, making it more precious. Lean into My grace; My strength is perfected in your weakness.
Let not your heart be troubled when you face a valley. I am with you, and My rod and staff comfort you. My grace is sufficient, and My power is made perfect in your weakness. My peace, which surpasses understanding, will guard your heart and mind. I provide a way of escape and give you everything you need for life and godliness. Rest in My unwavering love, and know that all things are working together for good, conforming you to the image of My Son.
Scripture References: John 11:40; Hebrews 11:1; James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 1:6-7; Galatians 2:20; Romans 6:4-11; Romans 8:1-2; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:8-10; Romans 8:28-29; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10; Philippians 4:6-7; Philippians 4:19; Psalm 23:4; Matthew 17:20; 2 Corinthians 4:16-17; Romans 5:3-4; 1 Corinthians 10:13; Colossians 1:27; Colossians 2:9-10; John 15:5; Isaiah 40:31; 1 John 5:4; Ephesians 1:3; Romans 8:15; 2 Timothy 1:7.
Real-Life Analogy
Think about when your phone battery is nearly empty. You plug it into the charger even though you cannot see the electricity flowing. You trust that the invisible power will restore the battery. Faith works the same way. When you feel drained or uncertain, you can connect to the source, trusting that Jesus will supply what you cannot see.
When you encounter a situation that drains your confidence, pause and whisper, “Lord, I trust You to live Your life through me right now as my sufficiency.” If bills are due and resources are low, if a relationship is strained, or if your plans collapse, yield your heart to Him, believing that His unseen power is already at work.
Prayer of Confidence
Lord, I thank You that my faith rests in You and not in my own understanding. You have already provided every spiritual blessing in Jesus, and I am complete in Him. I rejoice that the testing of my faith is producing perseverance and drawing me closer to You. I rest in Your love, confident that You will stand by me in every trial.