Wild Valley
In survival, the mountain peaks are the worst place to be. On my television show SOS: HOW TO SURVIVE, we covered several real-life survival stories of people stranded at the top of mountains. One common theme emerged: extreme exposure. Whether it was wind, rain, sun, or snow, these individuals were vulnerable to the worst of Mother Nature, often without any place to shelter.
On mountain peaks, survival resources are scarce. No food, no water, no shelter—just snow and rocks. From a survival perspective, the mountain peaks are the worst possible place to be. The best strategy is to move down into the valleys as quickly as possible. The valley is where the resources are. Here, you’ll find water, vegetation, animals, shelter, and even other people. The valley provides the tools and resources necessary to survive the challenges ahead.
In life, the same truth applies: to survive the peaks, you often need to go into the valleys. That’s where the resources are.
I’ll never forget the day we got the call. My wife Sarah and I were in a good place with two young kids, River and Lakelyn. Life was comfortable—until it wasn’t. Sarah was 15 weeks pregnant with our third child, a little girl we named Primrose Eve. But the doctors told us she had Trisomy 18, a genetic condition labeled “incompatible with life.” Our happiness turned to anxiety, our hope to doubt. For seven months, our lives felt like they were on hold.
But we remembered what God had already done for us, as I shared in the previous email about how He restored our marriage. If He could do that, He could do anything. We prayed fervently for a miracle, and dozens of others prayed with us.
The morning Primrose was born, we walked into the hospital believing for a miracle. When she arrived, she was perfect—so beautiful. I looked at Sarah and said, “We’ve got this.” Primrose opened her big brown eyes and stared into mine, as if to tell me everything would be okay.
But it wasn’t okay. One moment, we were dreaming of our future with her. The next, we were holding her in our arms, weeping as she took her last breath. She was here, and then she wasn’t, and with her went a piece of our hearts. We walked into the hospital with hope and dreams, and we left feeling hopeless. Where was our miracle? Where was God?
We found ourselves in the darkest valley we had ever experienced. But remember what I said about the valleys?
That’s where the resources are.
Romans 8:28 reminds us:
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
I left the hospital as a different man. Although we had lost our little girl, I felt the Holy Spirit in that room more than ever before. Amid the heartbreak, there was an overwhelming peace. It sounds strange, but we were both completely empty and completely full at the same time. Our prayer hadn’t been answered, but we were not abandoned.
Suddenly, I saw life more clearly. I had surrendered my marriage to Jesus, but I had held tightly to everything else—my business, my finances, my time, my influence. But after that day, I didn’t want the things of this world anymore. It was as if a light had been turned on, and I saw my life in a new way.
My wife and I often imagine it like this:
In heaven, God sits on the throne before millions of unborn souls. “I have a special project,” He says. “It’s difficult, but I need a volunteer. There’s a couple who has one foot in the world and one foot in the Kingdom. They’re close but just can’t see it.”
“I’ll do it,” says a small voice. “I’ll go.” It was Primrose.
Romans 5:3-5 reminds us:
"Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us."
Primrose lived for four hours, never speaking a word, but her life changed the course of mine. Her brief time with us became the catalyst for a complete shift in focus—from the fleeting things of this world to the unseen treasures of eternity. Just like those in survival stories, I found the resources I needed in the valley. That valley is much of the reason why you’re reading this devotional today.
James 1:12 says:
“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”
God uses the valleys to forge character, faith, and resilience. The hard times help us focus on what really matters and strip away the distractions that keep us from real sustenance. The valleys are where the survival resources in life are found—faith, perseverance, and resilience. And those resources can change eternity.
I don’t have it all figured out, but I know this: every day, I ask God how I can honor Him with my work, my influence, my finances, and my gifts. And every day, I promise to spend my life ensuring that Primrose’s four hours here on Earth will make an eternal impact.
We all walk through valleys. It’s part of life. But none of us have to walk through them alone.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 reminds us:
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
We don’t usually go looking for valleys. They often find us. And when they do, it’s easy to feel like we’ve been abandoned or forgotten. But what if the valley isn’t a punishment—it’s preparation? What if it's not the end—but the beginning of a deeper faith? God doesn’t waste pain. He meets us in the lowest places with the deepest truths. If you’re in a valley right now, don’t run from it. Instead, lean into what God might be doing in you. The resources are there, waiting.
Here are a few ways to engage with Him in your valley this week:
INTO THE WILD
Verse to Contemplate:
“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame…”
— Romans 5:3–5 (NIV)
Questions for the Wilderness Journal:
What valley are you walking through right now—or have walked through recently?
In what ways has God met you in that valley, even if your prayers weren’t answered how you hoped?
What resources—faith, clarity, humility, hope—has the valley given you?
Are there areas of your life you’re still holding onto instead of surrendering to God?
How can you honor someone’s life, or a painful experience, by the way you live?
Prayer of the Day:
Father, the valley is painful, but I know You are here. Even when my prayers go unanswered, help me trust that You are working for my good and Your glory. I give You the pieces of my pain and ask You to shape them into something eternal. Teach me to see with eyes of faith, and help me honor You with my story. Thank You for meeting me in the valley. I’m listening. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Wilderness Application:
Go on a slow, quiet walk in a low place—along a creek bed, a wooded trail, or a quiet valley—and reflect on the idea that valleys are places of growth and provision.
Sit outside at dusk or dawn, times that reflect transition, and journal about what God is refining in you right now.
Choose a stone and carry it with you throughout the day. Let it represent both the weight of grief and the strength of what God is building in you.
Write a letter to God (or to someone you’ve lost) about what the valley has taught you. Be honest. Let the letter be part of your healing.
Find a single flower or blade of grass growing in an unlikely place. Reflect on how life can still spring up in barren seasons.