The Valley of Baca - or The Valley of Adversity and Weeping

I am in a hurry this morning. I want to get this post done before lunch, but it's not going to happen. This is Friday. (See you are not reading this until Monday- as usual, Dorinda is a little late. ha!)


My Daniel Fast Journal scripture today (Friday) is from Psalm 84:11. I read the whole chapter and just really received an encouragement from my Savior today.


My sweet and wonderful husband preached a sermon one time on the the Valley of Baca mentioned in verse 6. He said the word Baca is adversity. Hmmmmmm....
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That is as far as I got Friday before the demands of the day caught up with me and I had to abandon my blogging. But, I have been pondering these thoughts all weekend. My heart is full and my mind is going in a thousand different directions this morning. I am not sure even where I should start!

I think, I know, that someone is going to read this post that really needs to hear what God is trying to speak to them. I pray the anointing of Joshua as you read. Joshua was told he would be given every where he set his foot. I pray every where I have typed a stroke on my computer would be battle ground taken back from the enemy of our souls.

Psalm 84. That is where I will start. Please read it.

1 How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty! 2 My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD ; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. 3 Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young- a place near your altar, O LORD Almighty, my King and my God. 4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. Selah 5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage. 6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. 7 They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion. 8 Hear my prayer, O LORD God Almighty; listen to me, O God of Jacob. Selah 9 Look upon our shield, O God; look with favor on your anointed one. 10 Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. 11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. 12 O LORD Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you.

Baca-a word, a place. The Valley of Baca is described by Holman's Bible dictionary as-

• Hebrew - Baca BACA
(bay' cuh) Place name meaning, “Balsam tree” or “weeping.” A valley in Psalms 84:6 which reflects a poetic play on words describing a person forced to go through a time of weeping who found God turned tears into a well, providing water.

Some of you are in a time of weeping, a time of adversity. Maybe your pain is so private that no one knows you are hurting. Maybe you feel trapped. Our adversities may have different situations, different hurts, different events, but it is very much so the same valley.

The literal Valley of Baca is thousands of miles away in a land that most of us have never traveled to. The spiritual Valley of Baca is very familiar. We all know the road and have probably all been down it many times.

The Valley of Baca. I picture a desolate place. A place that sane people avoid at all costs. It is dry and barren. Isolated. The heat of the valley drains the weary travelers quickly. Hope is waning and despair quietly takes its place.

I went through the Valley of Baca. As I entered, I was afraid. But I knew that I had to pass through the Valley, because on the other side was what I needed, what I had been promised. I set my heart on my journey. My strength begin to fail me. Hope was disappearing. It wasn't supposed to be like this! I just wanted to get to the other side - to my promise. But, it seemed that each step I took, added ten more to my journey's end! How would I make it! I was dry. I was thirsty! My soul was parched! There seemed no end in sight. I became full of despair. Was this what the end would be like? Would I die in this condition? Where had my strength gone?

In utter desperation I cried out to God- my Redeemer, my Savior! I weeped before my God. My tears mirrored the agony of my heart. Once again, I set my heart on my journey. He would be my strength. He would sustain me! He provided me with water for my soul. I refreshed myself in Him. My circumstance didn't change. It wouldn't. This was Baca, the place of adversity where weeping and anguish would accompany me until I reached the end of my pilgrimage. But God! He was there! He held me when I cried. He wiped the tears. He comforted me when I was bruised. He replaced despair with His Presence.

I still couldn't see the end of the Valley of Baca, but He was my strength. If I could just trust in Him, all would be well. Each time I felt I couldn't go on and was thirsting to death, He provided nourishment from the springs. He watered my soul from His cup.

It seemed as if an eternity passed. I reached the end of the Valley of Baca. I was not defeated! I was stronger! I had learned lessons of wisdom and strength. It wasn't the Valley of the Shadow of Death- it was Baca. The Valley of Adversity, the valley of weeping.

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There is a God who sees you in your hurt, your frustration, and your pain. He knows what you are going through. He longs for you to call upon His Name and seek His face with all of your heart. Don't listen to the lies of the one who despises you. Listen to the Creator's gentle whisper of love for you. Find your strength in Him. Don't turn from the Valley of Baca, because your promise is on the other side. Set your heart on your pilgrimage, find your strength in Him and be blessed!

I know this is different today but I just wanted to be obedient. My friend, you are a treasure. Stay steadfast and He will not abandon you. Meditate on His Word and His goodness. Look to Him. As always, I pray you:

Seek His Face. Pursue an intimate relationship with the Savior.

Know His Truth. Gain ultimate reality about His Kingdom.

Love His Word. Desire passionate revelation of His Nature.

Live His Will. Submit daily to His Purpose

Have a blessed and wonderful day as you pursue the Lover of your soul.

dorinda

p.s. If you need help or encouragement through the Valley of Baca, please leave your email address and I will be glad to contact you and pray with you.