Psalm 84:5-7 "Blessed are those who pass through the Valley of Tears and make it a place of springs…….they go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion."
What Psalm 84 calls the valley of tears is similar to what Psalm 23 calls the valley of the shadow of death. Basically both valleys refer to this life, where cause for tears is never far away and the curse of death is always looming. But in Christ, a spring wells up to eternal life, and the Holy Spirit leads from "strength to strength".
Give thanks for yummy food, fun friends, football, family, and nice homes-it's easy, everyone who has those things does it. But the valley becomes a spring after deeper thought into the difficulties that push toward a sanctified appearance before God. In addition to the temporary pleasant stuff, consider adding thought and thanks for the better stuff whereby God is leading from strength to strength.
Challenges – Whether physical, spiritual, mental, or social challenges, "God works all things together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified." Romans 8:28-29. Consider the challenges and their good results, and give thanks.
Authority – Submitting to authority leads to internal difficulty, resisting authority in good conscience leads to difficult, heart-wrenching, and socially isolating situations.
"Let every person be subject to governing authorities." Romans 13:1
"And he answered (King Ahab), "I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father's house, because you have abandoned the commandments of the Lord and followed the Baals." 1 Kings 18:18.
Consider the interactions with authority that led toward submission and/or courage when, and give thanks.
Circumstances – "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therein to be content. I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:11-13 Consider the circumstances that led toward contentment, and give thanks.
