“Remember that mountaintops encourage you, but valleys mature you.” I read this in a devotional from Nicky Gumbel, founder of the Alpha Project. How true. I’m walking through a valley right now. At the center, relational conflict. It’s exhausting. Sad to watch. Yet, even as the tempest swirls, I’m reminded of what James told us. He said we were to see trials as good things. Not only that, we were to “count it all joy” when these trials came (James 1). Not just get through or endure. To actually find joy in the midst of them. One way I’ve found joy is to look intently for moments where God reveals Himself. In my case, I was hoping to connect with someone I really love who’s embroiled in this, and I wrote that in my journal. Not thirty minutes later, he texted me. We met up. Small things like that have helped me see the Holy Spirit moving in this situation. As I look for glimpses of His presence, they help me find joy. Perhaps you or someone in your family is walking through a valley right now. Maybe you need to find some joy. It may be hard to come by. Look around for those developments that are beyond your control. That “chance” meeting, kind word, softening heart or apology given. These are not man’s doing, but God’s. It’s in Him we can find joy in the chaos and grow through the valley.

How to study the Bible in 5 minutes: Consider the context of every passage of Scripture you read and bombard it with questions. Think about the smells, sounds, and pressures of each circumstance. What would you do/think/feel if you were in that situation? Being able to picture the scene makes the events come alive.

How to prioritize our time as busy husbands and fathers: How should we deal with symptoms of imbalance that take valuable time away from our family? As loving husbands and fathers, our relationship with our wives and kids requires a much larger time commitment than anything else (if you want them to love you, that is!). So, let’s ask ourselves: For the 16 hours we’re awake each day, what can we do to carve up that time in a way that honors God, honors our family, and honors our professional duties? It’s definitely not an easy task, nor one size fits all. But simply having awareness and intentionality are all we need to prioritize the most important parts of our lives.

“Trials teach us what we are; they dig up the soil, and let us see what we are made of.” – Charles Spurgeon

“Your trials, crosses, and conflicts are all temporary.” – J. C. Ryle

“If I had not felt certain that every additional trial was ordered by infinite love and mercy, I could not have survived my accumulated suffering.” – Adoniram Judson

“Trials, obstacles, difficulties and sometimes defeats, are the very food of faith.” – George Müller

Find joy. What are you experiencing right now that is unpleasant, difficult or completely devastating? Even within the pain, can you find some joy? Maybe you walked into the coffee shop depressed, but bumped into a friend. Perhaps you came home dejected, and your small child did something to make you laugh. You saw a prayer get answered. You caught a ray of hope. See if within your circumstances you can find joy. It just might be right there waiting for you to notice it.

Kent Evans
Author of The Manhood Journey, co-founder of Manhood Journey and Father On Purpose.

P.S. Was this Mountain Monday helpful? Tell me if you love it, hate it, or if there’s something you’d like in the next one.

Forward this to a dad you know who needs some encouragement.