Remember the Mountaintops: Staying Faithful Through the Valley

May 10, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Stones and Standing

Paul stood in Lystra, eyes locked on a man crippled from birth. He saw faith stirring beneath the man’s helplessness. “Stand up,” Paul commanded. The man leaped—muscles, bones, and hope restored. Crowds shouted, “Gods walk among us!” But days later, those same hands that cheered hurled stones, leaving Paul for dead. Yet when disciples gathered around him, Paul rose, walked back into the city, and kept preaching. [55:34]

Valleys test what mountaintops reveal. Paul didn’t quit when applause turned to violence. His scars became proof: tribulation fuels purpose. Jesus never promised painless victory but presence in the fight.

You’ve felt the stones—betrayal, loss, doubt. But what if your valley is where God trains your endurance? When criticism or pain hits this week, will you rehearse defeat or recall His past faithfulness? What wound are you letting define you instead of drive you?

“But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe.”
(Acts 14:20, ESV)

Prayer: Ask Jesus for strength to rise after rejection, just as Paul did.
Challenge: Write down one trial you’re facing. Beside it, write “God is with me here.”

Day 2: Voice in the Wilderness

Jesus emerged from Jordan’s waters, heaven ripping open. The Father’s voice thundered: “You are my Son, whom I love.” Yet the Spirit immediately drove Him into the desert. For forty days, Satan hissed lies about identity, but Jesus clung to those three words—Son, loved, pleased—like armor. [01:02:05]

The wilderness amplifies lies. Jesus’ victory wasn’t ignoring the valley but weaponizing the Father’s words. Your darkest moments demand you rehearse what God declared in the light.

What phrase has God spoken over you—in Scripture, prayer, or past breakthrough—that you’ve forgotten? When stress tightens its grip today, stop. Speak that truth aloud. Whose voice are you letting drown out the Father’s?

“And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.’ At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness.”
(Mark 1:11–12, NIV)

Prayer: Thank God for one specific promise He’s given you. Repeat it three times.
Challenge: Text a friend the Bible verse God used to strengthen you recently.

Day 3: Fruit in the Cut

Paul trudged through Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, repeating the same gritty message: “Through many tribulations we enter God’s kingdom.” No one plants vineyards on cliffs—fruit grows in low, rich valleys. Paul knew the same storms that battered faith also watered it. [01:05:12]

God doesn’t waste your ache. Valleys aren’t detours—they’re vineyards. Every tear, prayer, and clenched fist of faith fertilizes future harvests.

What valley are you resenting instead of tending? This week, water one barren area with prayer: a strained relationship, stagnant dream, or stubborn fear. What if this struggle is preparing soil for something sacred?

“They strengthened the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”
(Acts 14:22, ESV)

Prayer: Confess your frustration over a current trial. Ask God to show you its purpose.
Challenge: Plant a seed (literal or symbolic) as a reminder of growth coming from your valley.

Day 4: Rising After the Rocks

Bloodied and bruised, Paul limped into Derbe. Yet instead of nursing wounds, he strengthened disciples. His scars became sermons: “Don’t quit—I didn’t.” He turned his agony into fuel for others’ faith. [58:07]

Resurrection power shines brightest in battered vessels. Paul’s perseverance wasn’t self-help—it proved Christ’s life surging through mortal flesh.

Who around you is wobbling under life’s rocks? Today, share a story of how God sustained you. Your survival gives others permission to hope. When did someone’s endurance once inspire you to keep climbing?

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
(Galatians 6:9, NIV)

Prayer: Pray for one person facing a trial. Ask God to make you their encourager.
Challenge: Call someone who’s walking through a valley. Say, “God’s not done with you yet.”

Day 5: Grit in the Dust

The disciples huddled around Paul’s broken body, praying. Dust coated his wounds, but resolve burned brighter. He coughed, stood, and whispered, “Derbe’s waiting.” This wasn’t resilience—it was raw dependence on the Spirit who raises the dead. [01:09:15]

Grit isn’t self-made. It’s Spirit-breathed. Paul’s endurance came from daily surrender, not personal grit. Your valleys train you to lean into divine strength, not your own.

Where are you relying on willpower instead of worship? Today, trade “I’ve got this” for “God’s got me.” What step can you take to depend on the Spirit rather than your stamina?

“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
(Philippians 4:13, ESV)

Prayer: Ask the Holy Spirit for one practical strategy to rely on Him today.
Challenge: Set a phone reminder to pray “Strengthen me, Jesus” at 3 PM daily this week.

Sermon Summary

We gather to dedicate children as a way to declare that parents will raise their kids with a big view of who God is, to invite the church to join that commitment, and to pray over the child so God’s hand covers their life. We celebrate mothers and spiritual mothers who steward prayer, faith, and spiritual authority in family and church life, and we recognize single mothers whose unseen labors shape world changers. We hold fast to the mountaintop moments of worship, baptisms, and conversions as evidence of God’s work among us, and we remind one another that those high points do not erase the valleys we must cross. We remember the apostle Paul’s pattern of ministry: to strengthen hearts, to encourage perseverance, and to keep proclaiming that entry into God’s kingdom often comes through tribulation. We refuse the cultural lie that calls for constant mountaintop living and instead embrace the truth that the calling of God is a journey of climbs and descents. We acknowledge ministry whiplash, the quick swing from mountaintop joy to valley grief, and we commit to staying engaged in the climb rather than retreating from the valley. We refuse to doubt God when circumstances contradict the word spoken on the mountaintop. We commit to recalling the identity, affection, and affirmation God has spoken over us so that we remain steady under trial. We recognize that valleys refine faith and produce fruit. We choose to view valleys as the soil where spiritual grit, dependence on the Holy Spirit, and lasting fruit develop, not as proof that God abandoned his promises. We call for repentance where complaining or blame has replaced trust, and we invite fresh strengthening, encouragement, and spiritual perseverance. We welcome those who decide today to surrender to Jesus, offering forgiveness and new life as a gift rather than a reward for performance. We end with prayer for renewed faith to apply what God spoke on the mountaintop as we walk through the valley, trusting that God is at work in both places and that perseverance will yield harvest.

Key Takeaways

1. Mountaintops and valleys both matter The Christian journey includes highs of worship and decision and lows of grief and testing. We must keep both in view so mountaintop memories fuel perseverance in the valley and valley lessons deepen our faith. Remembering both prevents us from idolizing experience or fleeing hardship. [44:37]
2. Strengthen, encourage, and warn Ministry must fortify hearts, cheer on the climb, and honestly name tribulation as part of the way to God’s kingdom. Strength without truth becomes shallow, encouragement without endurance produces burnout, and warning without hope breeds fear. Healthy leadership balances all three to build resilient disciples. [45:14]
3. Valley refines and produces fruit Valleys cultivate dependence on the Holy Spirit, perseverance, and character that mountaintops cannot manufacture. Fruitfulness often comes from patient obedience in hard places rather than from visible success. Reorienting our eye toward growth in the valley transforms complaint into worship. [64:20]
4. Remember God’s word in valleys What God declared in the light must sustain us in the dark, just as the father’s word supported Jesus in temptation. Recalling identity, affection, and affirmation from God anchors faith when circumstances contradict sensation. Naming those words aloud renews courage and keeps us moving toward the next climb. [62:57]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:28] - Opening worship and plans
[35:52] - Why we dedicate children
[38:19] - Prayer for the child
[39:56] - Honoring spiritual mothers
[42:50] - Remember the mountaintop introduction
[44:37] - Mountaintops and valleys explained
[45:14] - Paul’s threefold ministry
[55:34] - From mountaintop to stoning
[62:57] - God’s word and valley sustenance
[64:20] - Fruitfulness grows in valleys
[75:24] - Invitation to surrender
[76:19] - Celebration and closing

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Acts 14:21-22 (ESV)
When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.

Observation Questions

What three actions did Paul prioritize when ministering to believers in Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch (Acts 14:21-22)?
After Paul was stoned and left for dead, what did he do immediately afterward (see sermon example at [58:07])?
What three things did the Father declare over Jesus at His baptism (Mark 1:11), and how does the sermon connect this to our valleys?

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Paul emphasized "many tribulations" as part of entering God’s kingdom, even after miraculous mountaintop experiences like healing the crippled man (Acts 14:8-10)?
How might doubting God’s promises in the valley (e.g., questioning His faithfulness during hardship) impact a person’s ability to persevere (see [59:32])?
The sermon says valleys produce "spiritual grit" and dependence on the Holy Spirit. Why can’t these qualities be developed on mountaintops alone?

Application Questions

What “valley” are you currently walking through where you’ve been tempted to complain or blame others instead of trusting God’s purpose? How could you reframe this season as an opportunity for growth?
Identify one specific promise or affirmation God has spoken over you (e.g., through Scripture, prayer, or community). How will you intentionally recall it this week when doubts arise?
The sermon warns against “ministry whiplash” ([50:57]). When have you experienced a sudden shift from joy to grief? How can you support others navigating similar whiplash?
What practical step could you take to “strengthen” or “encourage” someone in your life who feels stuck in a valley (e.g., a text, prayer, or act of service)?
The sermon challenges us to see valleys as places of fruitfulness ([01:04:20]). What area of your life needs a shift in perspective from frustration to faith-filled patience?
If you’ve recently experienced a “mountaintop” moment (answered prayer, victory, etc.), how will you use that memory to fuel perseverance in your next valley?

Sermon Clips

42s

#RememberGodsWord

“What's different about the ministry of Jesus though is, of course, when Jesus is tempted, he doesn't forget what the father spoke over him on the mountaintop. And you see, one of the biggest temptations of the devil for your life is to try to convince you that what God spoke over you in the light is no longer true in the dark places. So let me say it this way. What God said over Jesus, the father spoke over Jesus the son in the light is what sustained Jesus through the temptation and through the valley. So here's my question for you on this one. What word from God do you need to remind yourself of to sustain you in this current valley?”

44s

#TribulationIsNormal

“Here's why this matters. If the apostle Paul, the man of God chosen by the spirit of God to write two thirds of the New Testament, couldn't go through this life without tribulation, then neither can you and I. Because if we're not careful, we can begin to doubt God the moment life isn't a mountaintop. Culturally speaking, we have been acclimated to think that every moment should be a mountaintop and we need to run away from the valleys. If we're not careful, then we begin to think that the calling of God is a mountaintop instead of a journey that has a whole lot of deep valleys.”

53s

#FruitInTheValley

“The enemy wants you complaining when you walk through your valley. When you look over at your neighbor in your valley and you think, look at all that they got. Oh, man, their parents, they left them with a way bigger man, their parents gave them, like, a $100,000 or $500,000 for a down payment on a house. I I didn't get any of that. And we find ourselves complaining about what we don't have instead of realizing the fruitfulness of your life gets manufactured in your valleys. I'm preach this to myself today. So let me ask you this question. Where are you trying to avoid a valley that God wants to teach you through, that God wants to produce something through, that God wants to get fruitfulness on your life because you walked through it with faith?”

37s

#PaulStonedButRises

“So, there's a mountaintop. You see it? Now, what happens right after the mountaintop? Let's keep reading. Verse 19. But, I was here, but some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul, dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city on the next day and went with Barnabas to Derbe. In a short period of time, mountains, valleys, healing on the edge of life.”

30s

#CallingIsAJourney

“Yes. Calling of God has mountaintops, but the call of God is not a mountaintop. It's a series of mountaintops and a series of climbs. That's why the apostle Paul showed up to these three cities and said, I'm gonna strengthen you. I'm gonna encourage you, and I'm gonna constantly remind you through many tribulations we're gonna enter the kingdom of God. If we're not careful, we begin to doubt God on the mountain. If we're not careful, we come into a worship service like we just had, and we think it's all about our comfort, and it's not also a place of absolute surrender.”

38s

#FathersWordsOverJesus

“And I've taught this a bunch of times. But there's only two times in scripture where we see and hear what the father spoke directly to Jesus. There's many times where Jesus relays to us something that he had heard from the father, like I'm doing my father's business, so that that he's been spoke to by the father. But the only time we know the actual words, it's two times in scripture, what the father spoke over Jesus at his baptism, and what the father spoke over Jesus at his transfiguration. And wouldn't you know it? Both times, it's the exact same thing. It's three things. You're my son, whom I love, and with you I'm well pleased.”

36s

#RemindAboutTheValley

“It's funny how God presses these things on your heart when you're, like, in the best Sundays we've ever seen, and and the Holy Spirit just shows up and says, yeah, but you gotta remind them about the valley so that no one's no one gets surprised. So, Lord, we stand before you today. I think some of us actually just need just a moment. You know, the presence of God is in this room. Some of us just need a moment to repent for how we've been looking at this valley. We've been angry about it. We've been complaining about it. We've been blaming somebody else for it.”

33s

#TribulationsLeadToKingdom

“Strengthening, I get. Encouraging, I get. Then there's a third description of the ministry of Paul to these three different cities, and it is this. That he reminded them that through many tribulations, we must enter the kingdom of God. Now that's fascinating to me. It's like that song when I was growing up, one of these things is not like the other. Well, one of these things don't belong, like, strengthening belongs, encouragement belongs, and reminding the church regularly that through many tribulations, we must enter the kingdom of heaven. Say what?”

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Remember the Mountaintops: Staying Faithful Through the Valley

Devotional

Day 1: Stones and Standing

Day 2: Voice in the Wilderness

Day 3: Fruit in the Cut

Day 4: Rising After the Rocks

Day 5: Grit in the Dust

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Remember the Mountaintops: Staying Faithful Through the Valley

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