Christians talk a lot about being on the mountaintop or down in the valley. The mountaintop experience is one of joy, excitement, and exhilaration. A valley being the place of trials, tests, and depression.
Both the mountaintop experience and the valley are important for your spiritual growth. The mountaintop experience is one with an extreme felt presence of God. The valley is the place where our faith is tested with trials and tribulations because of its purpose in our lives.
I believe the Christian perception of the “valley” is wrong. The valley isn’t the place of depression and tough times most believers think it is. The valley is where we grow spiritually and do the Lord’s work.
We Seek the Mountaintop Experience
The mountaintop experience is something Christians seek after. When it happens, they become excited and zealous for God. It is on the “mountaintop” we receive revelation, and it is where we experience the tangible, felt presence of God. This often propels us into a greater service for the Kingdom.
Yet, right after this, Christians often go back into the “valley” where they dwell most of the time. This is so prevalent that the “mountaintop experience” has become a Christian cliché of excitement and zeal. The valley has become a symbol of rough times and depression.
This is where I differ and believe the Christian perception of the valley is wrong. We can be tested and tried on the mountaintop just as we can in the valley.
Have you never had the devil create doubt about your having an extremely intimate and powerful experience with God’s presence? During your mountaintop experience, he starts whispering in your ear that this is just a fake experience. You are just working it up with your emotions.
What Is the Mountaintop Experience
A mountaintop experience happens when there is an unusually powerful presence of the Lord. Most often, accompanied by a spiritual directive that often changes the direction of our life.
Mountains are a symbol of steadfastness. They are solid and unmovable. In the Bible, mountains are often the places where God meets with a person, alters their life, and sends them back down the mountain with a Word from Him.
We first see this with Noah on Mount Ararat:
“And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all future generations: I have placed my bow in the clouds, and it will be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I form clouds over the earth and the bow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all the living creatures: water will never again become a flood to destroy every creature. The bow will be in the clouds, and I will look at it and remember the permanent covenant between God and all the living creatures on earth.” God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and every creature on earth.” (Genesis 9:12-17 CSB)
Noah had a mountaintop experience with the Lord. God met him there and established His covenant with Noah and his descendants. Noah and his descendants’ authority and dominion over all the animals on the earth was reestablished at this time.
God blessed Noah and gave all of mankind and animals a sign of the covenant that He will never flood the earth again. The sign is the rainbow we still see today.
The Mountaintop Experiences of Moses
Moses had not one, but two mountaintop experiences that significantly altered his life. His first mountaintop experience was on Mount Horeb (also called Mount Sinai), which is known as the “Mountain of God.” God speaks to Moses on this mountaintop from a burning bush.
Then the Lord said, “I have observed the misery of my people in Egypt, and have heard them crying out because of their oppressors. I know about their sufferings, and I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and to bring them from that land to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the territory of the Canaanites, Hethites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. So because the Israelites’ cry for help has come to me, and I have also seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them, therefore, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh so that you may lead my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.” (Exodus 3:7-10 CSB)
This incident changed Moses’ life from one of a simple shepherd into a leader of the Israelites and the greatest prophet of Israel. God sent Moses down from the mountain with a message for His people and for pharaoh that also altered their lives forever.
The next mountaintop experience in Moses’ life happened on the same mountain when he received the ten commandments.
Moses went up the mountain to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain: “This is what you must say to the house of Jacob and explain to the Israelites: 4 ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you will carefully listen to me and keep my covenant, you will be my own possession out of all the peoples, although the whole earth is mine, 6 and you will be my kingdom of priests and my holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to say to the Israelites.” (Exodus 19:3-6 CSB)
This second incident on God’s Mountain changed Moses from a leader into the greatest prophet Israel ever had. Israel reveres him as the greatest prophet to this day. The message Moses was given during his second mountaintop experience gave God’s people His Law. Known even today as the Law of Moses.
The Mountaintop Experience of Jesus
After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother John, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. He was transformed in front of them, and His face shone like the sun. Even His clothes became as white as the light. Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it’s good for us to be here! If You want, I will make three tabernacles here: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said: This is My beloved Son. I take delight in Him. Listen to Him! When the disciples heard it, they fell facedown and were terrified. Then Jesus came up, touched them, and said, “Get up; don’t be afraid.” When they looked up they saw no one except Him—Jesus alone. As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Don’t tell anyone about the vision until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.” (Matthew 17:1-9 CSB)
Three of the gospels record Jesus’ transfiguration. This is an important event for Jesus and the three disciples.
The Importance of the Mountaintop Experience for Jesus
It was important for Jesus to reinforce He is doing the right thing. In about six months after this event, Jesus will face a horrific death upon the cross and He knew this. Moses and Elijah were there to talk about what was to come and its importance to mankind.
As they spoke, Jesus was transformed into an image of His future glorified body, in which He will rule and reign on earth. Jesus, the man, got a glimpse of the future Jesus as God.
It is important that Moses and Elijah were the ones to appear to Jesus in this vision. Jesus had already taught, “Don’t think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.” (Matthew 5:17 CSB)
Moses represented the Law and Elijah represented the prophets. The very things Jesus said He will fulfill to usher in the Kingdom of God. I believe this is the very thing Moses and Elijah were speaking of to Jesus.
The Importance for the Three Disciples
Peter, James, and John, Jesus’ close inner circle, witnessed this event. They heard the voice of the Father speaking of His love for the Son. They were able to see Jesus in His glorified body.
They were witnesses of the Father giving glory and honor to His Son, Jesus.
This vision Peter and John took part in, propelled them through years of difficult ministry and persecution. When they spoke of Jesus, they spoke of over three years of living with Jesus.
The vision on the Mount of Transfiguration allowed them a glimpse of the coming Kingdom of God. This event marked them for the rest of their life. The awe of what happened comes through in the very words Peter wrote in his second epistle.
Years later, Peter wrote of this incident:
For we did not follow cleverly contrived myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ; instead, we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased!” We ourselves heard this voice when it came from heaven while we were with him on the holy mountain. (2 Peter 1:16-18 CSB)
The Importance of the Mountaintop Experience
God desires to meet us on the mountaintop. He knows how important it is to our spiritual life and growth. For it is in these mountaintop experiences where God allows us to experience His glory, love, and approval.
The mountaintop is where God often gives us direction for our life. We get fueled to do the good works God designed us to do. Many ministers and missionaries received their calling from God through a mountaintop experience.
The mountaintop experience is important because it always propels us forward into more intense Christian duty. Very often deliverance and empowerment happen on the mountaintop.
Often the mountaintop is where God fills us with a refreshing of the Holy Spirit and deposits anointing in us. It is the mountaintop experience that marks us.
We need mountaintop experiences to experience the glory of God and receive revelation. But God never intended for us to live there.
The Value of the Valley
Here is where I differ from most Christians. I don’t see the valley as only a place of testing, trials, and tribulations. They happen in the valley, and I will explain why, but valleys are important to us.
The mountaintop experience is exhilarating, but we can’t live on a mountaintop. The view is magnificent, but there is a limited food supply. People don’t live on physical mountaintops, and God never intended us to live on spiritual mountaintops.
Valleys have lakes and streams and are where rich grasses and varied types of trees grow. Therefore, ranchers take their cattle and sheep to the valley for the rich food. We also know valleys are quiet places of rest and peace.
Because of their richness and abundant resources, people live in the valley. It is time to drop the negative connotation attached to valleys and embrace their true purpose.
The Purpose of the Valley
We go down to the valley to meditate on our recent revelation, allowing us to learn from our mountaintop experiences. This meditation allows us to digest the revelation so we can be more effective ambassadors for Christ.
The valley is where we receive the fuel for our spirit, the Word of God. The mountaintop experience can give us an exciting word or revelation, but it isn’t where we receive our daily food.
We find our steady supply of spiritual food in the valley. It is in the valley that we live, work, and play. This is where we interact with people.
It is in the valley where we can change the world and share God’s love and faithfulness that is as sure and solid as the mountains. In the valley, where the people live, is where we serve God and do the good works He prepared for us to do.
We come down from the mountaintop because very few people are there. The people live in the valleys. Our job is to share God’s reconciliation with them and bring them to the mountaintop for their own personal experience with God.
Why Is the Valley a Place of Testing and Trials
We experience tests, trials, and tribulation in the valley because we have a spiritual enemy. This enemy knows he can’t touch us during the mountaintop experience. There is too much of the presence of God on the mountaintop. The best he can do is create doubt.
When we come down into the valley, satan throws his whole arsenal at us. Why does he do this? He wants to stop two things.
- Our enemy wants to stop the Word of God from becoming effective in our life.
- Our enemy wants to stop our sharing of God’s reconciliation with others.
Our enemy, satan, is the thief that comes to steal, kill, and destroy. (see John 10:10) His sole purpose is to steal, kill, or destroy the Word of God sown in our lives. (Read the parable: The Sower Sows the Word in Mark 4:1-20)
If satan can steal, kill, or destroy the Word of God in our life, he stops faith in our life. Without faith, it is impossible for us to please God, and the devil has made us helpless and ineffective.
Therefore, we experience tests, trials, and tribulations in the valley. It is the devil trying to make us ineffective.
Change Your Perception of the Valley
It is time for Christians to change their perception of the valley and embrace the value of spiritual valleys. See the valley for what it is.
A place of rich spiritual resources where we share the love of God with others. Know the tests, trials, and tribulation will come and accept it for what it is: the testing of your faith.
Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing. (James 1:2-4 CSB)
Embrace the valley and know that the tests, trials, and tribulations will develop you into a mature Christian who is complete and lacking nothing. It is in the valley where you will grow the most.
If you liked what you read, share it with your friends:
This is an affiliate link. If you click on the graphic and buy something, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. That is how I maintain my website.
Christianbook Distributors
This is my favorite source for everything Christian. I have ordered from them with great satisfaction for over 20 years. If you need it, they have it.
- Bibles: Every translation imaginable
Books
Commentaries
Concordances
VBC Supplies
Bulletins
Communion Supplies
Pastor Resources
Bible Studies
- Gifts
Music
Movies
Journals
Children’s Books and Bibles
Toys
Stuffed Animals
Software
Clothing
