“Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion.”

—Psalm 84:5-7, NIV

I slowly drove down the steep gravel driveway. My 2003 Toyota Corolla wasn’t meant for driving the deep potholes and rocks. By the time I made it to the bottom, I was grateful that I had arrived at my retreat location and had brought all my food with me so I wouldn’t have to venture up that driveway until I left.

My plan had been to take the next almost 48 hours to be with Jesus. I had found this online rental unit not too far from home, but far enough that it felt like I was getting away from my everyday routine.

I really needed this time, as I sensed my full schedule had left me feeling drained.

Even as I packed, the Lord prompted me to bring items as if I were setting up a prayer room including items displaying Scripture. For me, that sounded like an inviting way to spend the weekend with Jesus.

As I stepped into my retreat space, I noticed a board with local happenings and realized that groups had been meeting in this space regularly for spiritual things not at all related to Jesus. Then I also realized that this space was more connected to the owners’ quarters than I had understood. My anxiety increased as I imagined this weekend not being as restful as I had hoped. I felt disappointed and discouraged about this location and then shaming myself for not looking more thoroughly into all of it before I arrived.

Here I was in a literal valley and God was with me. As I walked around praying through this space, I questioned God: How in the world do I rest here? This felt more like a battleground with Jesus than a playground – a place to recharge.

I recognized there was something purposeful in all the extra prayer-room-type items He prompted me to bring. He had plans to saturate this space with himself—to make it a make a place of worship.  

I pulled out the children’s Bible I had packed, The Jesus Storybook Bible, and turned to the stories from the Gospels I had bookmarked. “The Captain of the Storm” based on Matthew 8 was where I started. Chaos swirled around Jesus and the disciples as they were in a boat out on the water in the middle of a storm; and Jesus was taking a nap. He must have been a deep sleeper.

I wanted that kind of rest—deep sleep. How can Jesus take a nap in the middle of all this?

As I kept reading, what caught my attention was the conversation between Jesus and the disciples once everything was calm: “Then Jesus turned to his wind-torn friends. ‘Why were you scared?’ he asked. ‘Did you forget who I Am? Did you believe your fears, instead of me?’ Jesus’ friends were quiet. As quiet as the wind and the waves.”

Krishana, do you believe your fears instead of Me? Did you forget who I Am?

Those are questions I took with me.

I didn’t leave this retreat fully recharged; instead, I left excited to head home. Yet, Jesus journeyed with me into and through the valley. Even there, rest was available in Him and He created an unexpected place of worship.

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4, NIV).

Reflect: When have you noticed God preparing the way for you after it occurred? How did that impact you? How has God been with you in the valley? What did worship look like there? How have times in the valley changed your perspective on encountering God in worship?