Are you happy on the mountaintop AND in the valley? In this message, Tiffany Nunnally shares how to live in contentment in every circumstance. 

The key to contentment in life is loving where you live, not longing for what you lack. This doesn’t mean you don’t feel hope and excitement for the future, but while you’re planning for the future, appreciate the present. 

Valleys: Typical view of valleys:  low places to endure with help from the Lord, sometimes scary, just waiting until it’s time to move out of it back to a mountaintop experience. 

God’s view of valleys: They are places of favor, abiding, dwelling, rest, harvest, growth, community and protection. Focus on tending to your own grass so you don’t even notice neighbor's! 

“Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.” Proverbs 4:25-27

Mountains: Typical view of Mountaintops: High places with a exhilarating peak experience – easy fun places where we feel powerful and we want to stay there. 

God’s view of Mountains: An occasional journey for a purpose, that always requires sacrifice and has to be taken seriously.  

Valleys vs. Mountains: Life will always be a combination of valleys and mountains.  Don’t confuse safety with being stagnant and don’t confuse contentment with complacency.  

Keys to contentment:

God’s desire for us is to dwell in contentment in the valley and gain perspective on the mountain. 

1. Let the Lord be your source. 

“Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”  Philippians 4:11-13

“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “I will never leave you or abandon you.” Hebrews 13:5

2. Thankfulness. 

“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”  1 Thessalonians 5:18

You can’t feel thankful & complain at the same time.

3. Perspective.  “So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever” 2 Cor. 4:18

Your perspective comes from your position. If you’re seated in the heavenlies with Jesus (Ephesians 2:6) you can see things the way God does.

4. Trust.

“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.” Isaiah 26:3-4

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to his purpose for them.” Romans 8:28

Are you content on the mountain AND in the valley?