Stronger as You Go

By David Faust

If your life is stress-free, you can stop reading now. This article won’t be much help if you already have it all together. If all your days are merry and bright, your body is 100 percent healthy, your finances are robust, your family and friends all get along, your career is on the upswing, and your relationship with God never hits a snag, you probably should quit reading and move on.  

If your life isn’t stress-free, though, I invite you to join me on a brief excursion into one of my favorite chapters in the book of Psalms.  

Psalm 84 starts by highlighting the joy of worshiping God. “How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God” (Psalm 84:1-2, New International Version). Things highly valued in this world (financial security, physical health, pleasure, and entertainment) can’t fill the void. Our souls yearn “for the courts of the Lord” and the living God who meets us there.  

From Valley to Victory 

Noticing bird nests in Jerusalem’s temple courts, the psalmist observes, “Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young—a place near your altar, Lord Almighty, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you” (vv. 3-4).  

The psalmist seems jealous of these little creatures that get to be so close to God’s presence. But what about the times when your “nest” feels far removed from the Lord?  

The chapter continues, “Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage” (v. 5). Discipleship is a pilgrimage—not a constant spiritual high, but a lengthy journey toward a holy destination. And sometimes this journey takes us through rough terrain. “As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools” (v. 6).  

Baka is a Hebrew word for “weeping.” Some scholars say it refers to mulberry or balsam trees, which “weep” or drip their resin. The Valley of Baka is mentioned only here in Scripture. We don’t know its geographical location, but we’ve all been there. Like it or not, tears are part of the pilgrimage, and the pit of despair is a common stopover in the journey. Even if you worship God with all your heart, you can’t avoid the Valley of Weeping. But it’s something you “pass through,” not a place where you are stuck forever.  

God turns the valley of tears into a well-watered “place of springs” and “autumn rains” where things thrive and grow. Faith refreshes us there.  

From Strength to Strength 

But Psalm 84 isn’t finished. It goes on to say God’s people “go from strength to strength” (v. 7). During our journey, we move from one level of strength to another. Time in the valley teaches us to quit trusting our own strength and rely more on the Lord. The Good News Translation renders this verse, “They grow stronger as they go.” 

That’s what I want to do as I grow older: grow stronger as I go. I agree with the psalmist who told the Lord, “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked” (v. 10). It’s better to do menial tasks for God than to try living without him.  

Whether your circumstances are easy or difficult, stressful or peaceful, the closing words of Psalm 84 can make you stronger as you go. “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor … Lord Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you” (vv. 11-12). 

David Faust serves as contributing editor of Christian Standard and senior associate minister with East 91^st Street Christian Church in Indianapolis, Indiana. He is the author of Honest Questions, Honest Answers.