We have now entered the month of September, the month when Fall begins and the temperatures come down as we head into Winter in December.

Across our nation and across the world, we’ve been experiencing some of the hottest days on record. Records have been set for having the warmest days or should I say the hottest days.

I like warmer days of summer more than the cold days of winter but I must confess, this year I’m so looking forward to when the temperature comes down to a more normal range.

There are those who like colder days more than the warmer or hot days of summer, but as we grow older, those cold days take its toll on our joints, and we find more relief during the warmer days. Here’s the truth of the matter, we all want to be comfortable no matter what the temperature outside may be.

Isn’t that the same for us as believers? When things in our life are going well or more specifically, having no bumps, trials, troubles to deal with, we find we are very content.

We go to church and when we are experiencing those kinds of times in our life, worshipping the Lord seems so easy or sadly so mundane or routine.

Being a worship leader for so many years, as I look out over the congregation, it’s very easy to find those who are just going through the routine of worship. Life at the moment is going well for them so they can relax in worship.

On the contrary, it’s also easy to see those who are experiencing difficult times in life for they are the ones who are the first to lift their hands in worship, no matter what the song may be.

David writes in Psalm 23:4 “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me. Your rod and Your staff they comfort me”  

I emphasized the words ‘Even though’ and ‘valley’ to make a point. No matter who we may be in life, we will all face valleys in life. Valleys where the extreme heat of trials seem to overwhelm us, seem to never go away

During the valley of the shadow of death, David proclaims the Lord’s rod and staff comfort him because the Lord is with him in that valley.

It will soon cool down and sadly many will begin to complain it’s too cold outside; we are never happy. The valleys in life are where our faith is tested so the Lord will know whether our faith is real or just words we say.

What do you think the Lord would say of where your faith stands today??