"Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca, They make it a spring; The rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength; Each one appears before God in Zion." - Psam 84:5-7 ( NKJV)
Baca means weeping or tears. As they pass through dry valleys of pain and suffering they are turned into places of refreshment and provision. As they move through hopeless situations, peace and joy emerge and turn into flowing streams. This only happens through God's power. Through the One who leads them through that valley in the first place. God turns the desert wilderness into a rich, abundant stream.
" But as for you, you meant evil against me; But God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive."- Genesis 50:20 ( NKJV)
This is a verses we can apply to our lives. Joseph said this to his brothers who had sold him into slavery out of jealousy. Joseph passed through the valley of weeping-in fact, I believe the Bible records him weeping more times than any other person! He knew what it was like to pass from favoritism and comfort into unglamorous labor. But God made him prosper where he was and he became his master Potiphar's right hand. Later he is falsely accused of a crime and sent to live in prison, forgotten by everyone. After years in prison, becoming an administrator over his fellow prisoners, he is called into Pharaoh's presence to interpret his dream, and is appointed second in command of all of Egypt in order to prepare for the famine that God has told them is coming.
These verses truly describe Joseph's story . Even though the situations God moved him through weren't attractive or easy, his strength was in God and not himself. Every time he was thrown into a hopeless circumstance, God made him prosperous wherever he was and blessed whatever he did. As slave to trusted right hand man, as prisoner to ruler of Egypt. He went from strength to strength. He continued to honor God. As Joseph passed through those valleys of trials they became places of refreshment for others. They were turned into springs and wells of water. Every bit of Joseph's story is all about God bringing good out of hardship. Bringing life out of death. Bringing hope out of despair. Turning dry valleys into wells. Using every situation, large and small, to accomplish His plan. And that is what He wants to do in our lives. When we walk through the valleys with Him, there is something He wants to do as we're journeying there. He wants to change the landscape of the situation. He can turn a dry desert into a refreshing well where people can come and draw out hope and life from Him.
There are so many verses in the God's word about his turning things around and bringing out life and good from what is completely broken and dead. That is something that truly draws me to Him. The fact that He wants to use the things that seem unusable to build His kingdom. That He wants to repair, rebuild, renew, and restart instead of throwing away away or giving up.
" I will open rivers in desolate heights, and fountains in the midst of valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water."- Isaiah 41:18 (NKJV)
Baca means weeping or tears. As they pass through dry valleys of pain and suffering they are turned into places of refreshment and provision. As they move through hopeless situations, peace and joy emerge and turn into flowing streams. This only happens through God's power. Through the One who leads them through that valley in the first place. God turns the desert wilderness into a rich, abundant stream.
" But as for you, you meant evil against me; But God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive."- Genesis 50:20 ( NKJV)
This is a verses we can apply to our lives. Joseph said this to his brothers who had sold him into slavery out of jealousy. Joseph passed through the valley of weeping-in fact, I believe the Bible records him weeping more times than any other person! He knew what it was like to pass from favoritism and comfort into unglamorous labor. But God made him prosper where he was and he became his master Potiphar's right hand. Later he is falsely accused of a crime and sent to live in prison, forgotten by everyone. After years in prison, becoming an administrator over his fellow prisoners, he is called into Pharaoh's presence to interpret his dream, and is appointed second in command of all of Egypt in order to prepare for the famine that God has told them is coming.
These verses truly describe Joseph's story . Even though the situations God moved him through weren't attractive or easy, his strength was in God and not himself. Every time he was thrown into a hopeless circumstance, God made him prosperous wherever he was and blessed whatever he did. As slave to trusted right hand man, as prisoner to ruler of Egypt. He went from strength to strength. He continued to honor God. As Joseph passed through those valleys of trials they became places of refreshment for others. They were turned into springs and wells of water. Every bit of Joseph's story is all about God bringing good out of hardship. Bringing life out of death. Bringing hope out of despair. Turning dry valleys into wells. Using every situation, large and small, to accomplish His plan. And that is what He wants to do in our lives. When we walk through the valleys with Him, there is something He wants to do as we're journeying there. He wants to change the landscape of the situation. He can turn a dry desert into a refreshing well where people can come and draw out hope and life from Him.
There are so many verses in the God's word about his turning things around and bringing out life and good from what is completely broken and dead. That is something that truly draws me to Him. The fact that He wants to use the things that seem unusable to build His kingdom. That He wants to repair, rebuild, renew, and restart instead of throwing away away or giving up.
" I will open rivers in desolate heights, and fountains in the midst of valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water."- Isaiah 41:18 (NKJV)