BVOV Magazine 2013 - present

DEC 1989 This was the first article by Jerry Savelle to appear in the BVOV magazine. Leaving the Tears Behind by Jerry Savelle 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. 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, suffer 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! Psalm 84:5, 6 says, “Blessed is the man whose strength is in God...Who passing through the valley of Baca....” Did you notice that last phrase? Passing through the valley of Baca. Passing through! The valley of misery or weeping is not meant to be a permanent dwelling place. It's simply a place the people of God occasionally pass through. You've got to remember that. Baca doesn't last forever. So don't lay down your faith and die when you get there. No! Stand up and say, “This is not where I live. This is not God's best for me. I'm just passing through!" Here's something else you need to know about Baca. It can be a place of blessings! Psalm 84 says those who trust in God "make [the Valley of Baca] a place of springs; the early rain also fills [the pools] with blessings. They go from strength to strength [increasing in victorious power]..." ("The Amplified BIble, Classic Edition"). Blessings Await You! Did you hear that? There are blessings for you in Baca if you'll trust God as you pass through it. What's more, you can come out the other side stronger than you've ever been before. If you'll stand on the Word, that battle with sickness, that financial trouble, that time of misery the devil puts you through will just give you another story to tell about how powerful God is. It will just give you another testimony about how He gave you the victory. You can come out of Baca so full of faith and rejoicing that the devil will be sorry he ever messed with you. BVOV : 15

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