1 6 : B V O V
It's a phrase that means a place of "weeping
or misery." A place of crisis and pain. An
emotional desert where the dry winds
of disappointment constantly blow. And
whether it's at Christmas or another time of
year, it's a place all of us eventually go.
All of us. Even faith-filled, Holy Spirit-
baptized believers.
Somebody may say, "Yes, Brother Jerry,
God creates those painful places for us to
help us grow."
No, He doesn't. The devil, not God, is the one
that brings misery. He's the one who comes to
kill, steal and destroy. And that's exactly why
he designs those Valleys of Baca—to destroy
us. All too often he succeeds.
That's right. Many believers don't make it
through the Valley of Baca. They go in there,
su¤er setbacks and disappointments, and are
never heard from again. They give up hope
and allow misery to become their permanent
dwelling place.
But I'm here to tell you, that's not how the
Word of God tells us it should be!
by Jerry Savelle
Leaving
the Tears
Behind
The Valley of Baca.
It's a lousy place to
spend the Christmas
holidays. Yet, in spite
of all the seasonal
"cheer," a great
many people end
up there this time
of year.
If you don't
know exactly what
the "Valley of Baca"
is, you can read
about it in Psalm 84.
This was the rst-ever article
by Jerry Savelle to appear in the BVOV
magazine when it was published in
December 1989.
