Our lives, with rare exceptions, eventually pass through a valley—a difficult and wish-it-were-over season of life. Four big categories of such valleys come to my mind:

First, there are physical valleys. Something goes wrong with your body or brain. It could be intense anxiety or depression so bad you start to think some pretty dark thoughts. It could be the fear that it’s cancer or the fear that the cancer is coming back. Second, there are financial valleys. When you already had enough debt and then inflation hit. Or the car breaks down or your kid needs braces you can’t afford. Third, there are relational valleys. When your closest relationships are not going well. When your boyfriend won’t commit or your wife is done with her commitment. Finally, there are spiritual valleys. When you’ve been trying so hard and praying so much yet nothing seems to be changing or growing. 

I wish you never had to pass through things like that, but you either have or you are or you will. So what will you do in the valley? The apostle Paul suggests, “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” (2 Corinthians 4:18). Fix your eyes on the eternal blessings that are yours because of Jesus—forgiveness, love, heaven, hope—and you will make it through this valley.

Count your blessings. Not your physical blessings but instead every spiritual blessing that is guaranteed in Christ.