Trusting God Through Life's Valleys to Mountaintops
Summary
We all long for someone we can truly depend on, someone who will stand with us in the hardest moments. Research and experience both show that dependable relationships are a lifeline, not just a luxury. This deep need for trust and reliability is woven into our spiritual lives as well. As we journey to Mount Carmel with Elijah, we’re confronted with the question: when life pushes us into a corner, whom can we trust? The story of Elijah’s showdown with the prophets of Baal is not just about a dramatic display of God’s power, but about the journey that led Elijah to such unwavering confidence.
Elijah’s faith wasn’t forged on the mountaintop, but in the valley—through seasons of waiting, scarcity, and heartbreak. God led him first to the brook Kareth, a place of being “cut down,” where Elijah learned to rely on God for daily provision through ravens. When the brook dried up, God sent him to Zarephath, a place of “smelting,” where Elijah depended on a widow with almost nothing. Through these hidden, difficult seasons, Elijah learned to trust the Provider, not just the provision. Even when tragedy struck and the widow’s son died, Elijah’s prayers were shaped by a history of God’s faithfulness in the quiet and the desperate moments.
When Elijah finally stood on Mount Carmel, his confidence was not a sudden leap of faith, but the fruit of a long obedience in the same direction. God had proven Himself trustworthy in the valley, so Elijah could trust Him on the mountain. This is a pattern for all of us. We often desire the confidence of the mountaintop, but God shapes that confidence in the slow, refining fires of everyday struggles, disappointments, and delays.
In our own valleys—whether it’s a job that feels pointless, a relationship that’s faltering, or a season of waiting—God is inviting us to trust Him more deeply. Instead of asking God to simply get us out of hard situations, we’re challenged to ask what He’s teaching us in them. God is shaping us now for moments we can’t yet see, and He is always trustworthy—whether in the quiet, in the fire, or in everything in between.
Key Takeaways
- Dependable Relationships Reflect God’s Heart
Our longing for someone we can count on is not just emotional, but spiritual. God designed us to thrive in trustworthy relationships, and He Himself is the ultimate dependable presence. When we feel isolated or let down by others, we are invited to discover that God’s faithfulness is the foundation for all true security. [01:23]
- Confidence in God Is Forged in the Valley, Not the Mountaintop
Elijah’s boldness on Mount Carmel was not spontaneous; it was cultivated through seasons of obscurity, scarcity, and waiting. The valleys of life—where we feel cut down or refined—are God’s classroom for teaching us to trust Him deeply. The mountaintop moments are simply the public fruit of private faithfulness. [06:30]
- Trust the Provider, Not Just the Provision
God’s methods and timing often change, and His provision may look different than we expect. Elijah learned to trust God’s character, not just the gifts He gave. When resources dry up or answers are delayed, God is inviting us to depend on Him, not on the comfort of predictable outcomes. [07:48]
- God’s Faithfulness in the Quiet Prepares Us for the Fire
The spectacular moments of God’s intervention are built on a history of His quiet, daily faithfulness. Before the fire fell from heaven, Elijah had already seen God provide in hidden, humble ways. Our confidence in crisis is anchored in remembering how God has shown up for us in the ordinary and the overlooked. [12:46]
- Ask What God Is Teaching, Not Just for Escape
When life is hard, our instinct is to pray for relief or escape. But God often uses these seasons to shape our character and deepen our trust. Instead of rushing past discomfort, we are called to ask, “God, what are you teaching me here?”—trusting that He is preparing us for greater things ahead. [17:46]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:23] - The Need for Dependable Relationships
[02:36] - Mount Carmel: A Place of Decision
[03:57] - Elijah’s Bold Challenge
[05:18] - God’s Fire Falls: The People Respond
[06:30] - Elijah’s Valley: Learning Dependence
[07:48] - Zarephath: Trusting the Provider
[09:31] - Tragedy and Resurrection
[10:38] - Confronting Wickedness: Ahab and Jezebel
[11:47] - The Journey to Mount Carmel
[12:46] - God’s Faithfulness in the Quiet
[14:33] - When the Brook Dries Up
[15:42] - Faith Refined by Fire
[17:46] - Leaning In: What Is God Teaching You?
[19:30] - Closing Blessing and Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Trusting God in the Valley and on the Mountain
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### Bible Reading
1. 1 Kings 17:1-24 – Elijah at the brook Kareth and with the widow at Zarephath (God’s provision in the valley)
2. 1 Kings 18:16-39 – Elijah’s showdown with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel (God’s power on the mountaintop)
3. 1 Peter 1:6-7 – “In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” ([15:42])
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### Observation Questions
1. What were the different ways God provided for Elijah during his time at the brook Kareth and in Zarephath? (1 Kings 17:1-24)
2. How did Elijah prepare the altar on Mount Carmel, and why was this significant? (1 Kings 18:33-35)
3. What was the people’s response after God sent fire from heaven on Mount Carmel? (1 Kings 18:39)
4. According to 1 Peter 1:6-7, what is the purpose of going through trials? ([15:42])
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think God led Elijah through seasons of scarcity and waiting before the dramatic moment on Mount Carmel? ([06:30])
2. What does it mean to “trust the Provider, not just the provision,” and how did Elijah learn this lesson? ([07:48])
3. How does remembering God’s faithfulness in quiet, ordinary moments help us when we face bigger challenges? ([12:46])
4. In what ways does suffering or waiting refine our faith, according to 1 Peter 1:6-7 and Elijah’s story? ([15:42])
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### Application Questions
1. Think about a current “valley” in your life—a place of waiting, scarcity, or disappointment. What is one way you sense God might be inviting you to trust Him more deeply in this season? ([14:33])
2. When you face a difficult situation, is your first instinct to ask God for escape or relief? How might your prayers change if you started asking, “God, what are you teaching me here?” ([17:46])
3. Elijah’s confidence on Mount Carmel was built in private, hidden seasons. Are there small, daily ways you can practice trusting God this week, even if no one else sees? ([06:30])
4. Have you ever experienced a time when God’s provision looked different than you expected? How did that affect your trust in Him? ([07:48])
5. The sermon mentioned that dependable relationships reflect God’s heart. Who is someone in your life you can count on, and how can you thank or encourage them this week? ([01:23])
6. Is there an area where you feel “cut down” or “refined by fire” right now? What would it look like to lean into God’s shaping work instead of rushing past the discomfort? ([15:42])
7. Looking back, can you identify a “quiet” season where God was faithful to you? How can remembering that help you face your current challenges with more confidence? ([12:46])
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Devotional
Day 1: God Is Trustworthy and Dependable
We all long for someone we can truly depend on, especially in times of need or adversity. Research and experience both affirm that dependable relationships are a lifeline, not just a luxury, and this is even more true in our relationship with God. When life pushes us into a corner and we wonder whom we can trust, God stands as the One who is always reliable, always present, and always faithful to His promises. He is the steady anchor when everything else feels uncertain, inviting us to lean on Him with confidence, knowing He will never fail us. [01:23]
Psalm 18:2 (ESV)
"The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."
Reflection: Where in your life do you most need to experience God’s dependability today, and how can you intentionally lean on Him instead of your own strength?
Day 2: Trust Is Forged in the Valley
Elijah’s confidence on Mount Carmel was not born in a single moment of triumph, but was forged through seasons of waiting, suffering, and quiet dependence in the valley. God often leads us through times of brokenness and uncertainty, stripping away our self-reliance so that we learn to trust Him alone. Just as Elijah was fed by ravens and cared for by a widow with almost nothing, we too are invited to trust the Provider, not just the provision, and to recognize that God is shaping our faith in the hidden, difficult places. [07:48]
1 Kings 17:2-6 (ESV)
"And the word of the Lord came to him: 'Depart from here and turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.' So he went and did according to the word of the Lord. He went and lived by the brook Cherith that is east of the Jordan. And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where God might be inviting you to trust Him more deeply in a season of waiting or uncertainty?
Day 3: God’s Power Is Displayed in Our Weakness
When Elijah stood before the people and called on God, fire fell from heaven in a display of God’s undeniable power. Yet, this moment was only possible because Elijah had learned to trust God through previous trials and dependence. God often chooses to reveal His strength in our weakness, showing up in ways that leave no doubt about who deserves the glory. Our mountaintop moments are the result of God’s faithfulness in the valleys, and when He acts, it is so that all may know He alone is God. [05:18]
1 Kings 18:36-39 (ESV)
"And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, 'O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.' Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, 'The Lord, he is God; the Lord, he is God.'"
Reflection: Can you recall a time when God’s power was made evident in your weakness? How might you give Him the glory for it today?
Day 4: Trials Refine Our Faith
Seasons of suffering and disappointment are not wasted; they are the very places where God refines our faith, making it more precious than gold. Like Elijah, we may find ourselves in situations where resources dry up, prayers seem unanswered, or hope feels lost. Yet, these are the classrooms where God teaches us to trust Him before the fire falls, shaping our character and preparing us for greater confidence in Him. The delays and disruptions are opportunities for God to work in us, so that when the breakthrough comes, it is clear that He alone deserves the praise. [15:42]
1 Peter 1:6-7 (ESV)
"In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."
Reflection: What current trial or disappointment might God be using to refine your faith, and how can you respond with trust rather than frustration?
Day 5: God Teaches Us to Trust Him in Every Season
Whether we are on the mountaintop or in the valley, God is always at work, inviting us to trust Him more deeply. He is trustworthy in the quiet, in the fire, and in everything in between. When life backs us into a corner, instead of fighting our way out, we are called to let God show up and do what only He can do. As we walk as forgiven and free children of God, we can rest in the confidence that He is shaping us for His glory, and that His peace and strength are with us always. [19:30]
Romans 8:28 (ESV)
"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."
Reflection: Where is God asking you to trust Him and lean in today, and what would it look like to let Him shape you through this season rather than trying to control the outcome yourself?
Quotes
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