For Every Valley There's A Lilly...

 For every valley there’s a lily, for every garden there’s a rose,

There’re no mountains faith can’t master, and all my heartaches Jesus knows.

In my sorrow there’s a comfort, for this troubled heart of mine,

I know the midnight offers weeping, but in the morning joy I’ll find.

Though the storms of life are raging, above the thorns I’ll find a rose

For He sends the storms and showers, that make the little flowers grow,

Above the dark clouds, there’s the sunshine with His assurance my heart knows

For every valley there’s a lily, for every garden there’s a rose.

Through life’s trials I’m going, but alone I will not stand,

For the Lily of this Valley, He shares the sorrow and the pain;

When tomorrow’s journeys ended, upon the mountain top I’ll stand,

With the Rose of Sharon’s beauty, and with the Lily hand in hand.

Though the storms of life are raging, above the thorns I’ll find a rose,

For He sends the storms and showers, that make the little flowers grow,

Above the dark clouds, there’s the sunshine with His assurance my heart knows

For every valley there’s a lily, for every garden there’s a rose.

~  “For Every Valley There’s a Lily”     by Sonny Holland

 For several years we traveled forty-five miles up into the mountain as my husband pastored a church that had been without a pastor for over seven years as no one else would serve there.  Each week I would gaze out of the car window at the beautiful scenery of the high mountains and the deep valleys and wonder at God’s beautiful creation.  Grandeur and majesty are often the words that come to mind. Though it was spectacular as I marveled on one mountain top to the other, the toss and turn of the curves with the dips and mounts of the road between gave everyone in the car nausea, even the driver! I actually sat every week with a bath towel over my lap in case a child would throw up, so I would not have to spend the day at church smelling like such! Yes, I learned the hard way.

Life is very much like a journey through the mountains and valleys.  The mountain tops have such spectacular views; the air is invigorating! The accomplishments and successes propel us onward; there is no doubt. But, did you know that on the highest mountain tops, there is very little vegetation? It is not necessarily the TOP of the mountain where the beauty is found; it is looking at the valley below with its lush, variegated flora and fauna that enthralls the viewer. The valley with its thriving ecosystem has its spiders, snakes, briars and thorns. So, our life’s journey has its difficulties and turmoil with nausea along the way.

 From mountain tops to valleys, I am so thankful that as a child of God I have Someone that goes with me. The disappointments, frustrations, fears, and sorrow oftimes haze that marvelous view. As the Psalmist said, Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.  Ps. 23:4  He leads beside the still waters, and He sends the dark clouds with the storms and showers; but above them, there is the sunshine of His mercy and grace.  I can see the precious promises of His love and guiding hand in the lilies and roses.  For every valley, there is a lily; for every garden, there is a rose.

-Written by Kathy Ashley, author of Vitamins for the Soul.

Simply,