“Life is easy, when you’re upon the mountain, and you’ve got peace of mind, like you’ve never known. But things change when you’re down in the valley—don’t lose faith, for you’re never alone.”

“You talk of faith when you’re upon the mountain, but talk comes so easy when life’s at its best. Now it’s down in the valleys, of trials and temptations, that’s where your faith, is really put to the test.”

“For the God on the mountain, is still God in the valley. When things go wrong, He’ll make them right. And the God of the good times, is still God in the bad times; the God of the day is still God in the night.”  —Tracy Dartt  1975

I read the story that inspired Tracy to write this song. It is a very encouraging testimony to the faithfulness of God towards His children, when they find themselves “down in the valley.”

I very well remember the first time I heard this song. One of the ladies at the church where I was pastor, sang it at the beginning of our morning service. It spoke to my heart, and has been a blessing to me ever since. Sometime after that, a story in the Bible came to my mind, which I feel certain inspired Tracy with the words to his song.

In the days of the kings of Israel, a hostile king, Ben-hadad of Aram, gathered all his army and thirty-two kings and set out to conquer the kingdom of Israel. He sent this word to Ahab, the king of Israel: “Your silver and your gold are mine; your most beautiful wives and children are also mine.” The two kings exchanged words with king Ben-hadad greatly taunting king Ahab. But the God of Israel heard every word that came out of the mouth of the wicked king.

The Lord sent a prophet to Ahab with these words: “Thus says the Lord, ‘Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I will deliver them into your hands today, and you shall know that I am the LORD.” 1 Kings 20:1-13

That very day, king Ahab with a very small army defeated them and turned them back. Later, the Lord sent word to the king of Israel, telling him that Ben-hadad was going to attack him again the following year. The plan to attack Israel came about this way: the servants of Ben-hadad said to him, “Their gods are gods of the mountains, therefore they were stronger than we; but rather let us fight against them in the valley, and surely we will be stronger than they.” 1 Kings 20:23

The time came when king Ben-hadad attacked Israel with all the forces he could muster, including the Arameans. That was a bad choice, for the Lord had heard the Arameans say: “The Lord is a god of the mountains, but He is not a god of the valleys.” Needless to say, the defeat of the king of Aram the second time was much greater that it was the first time.

Child of God, your Father is with you when you’re upon the mountain, He’s with you when things seem to be really going well, when you are filled with His love, peace and joy. He’s with you when you are filled with thanksgiving, praise and a resolve to serve Him all the days of your life: those are great days, full of light and joy. But the enemy can bring us down into the valley through trying circumstances.

Child of God, your Father sees the trials, temptations, and tribulations that you face on a daily basis. As you seek to trust Him with all your heart, and follow Jesus, He knows your weaknesses and frustrations; He sees all of the distractions you encounter, the strong tug of your flesh to just give up, and the constant fiery darts the enemy shoots at you, trying to wound you with doubts and confusion. In the valley, we have this sure word of encouragement from our God:

“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you. surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

Child of God, don’t lose faith, for you’re never alone.