09/07/2026
God of the Hills and Valleys�Dr. Avril Occilien-Similien
“... This is what the LORD says: ‘Because the Arameans think the LORD is a god of the hills and not a god of the valleys, I will deliver this vast army into your hands, and you will know that I am the LORD’”
Have you ever gone through a season when life seemed to change faster than you could handle?
That's how I felt when my phone buzzed with alerts about a Category 5 storm heading straight toward people I love, and my mind wouldn’t slow down. Just days later, though, my emotions shifted to celebration as two unanswered prayers became reality almost simultaneously. Then my heart dropped again when I got a call that my mom was in the hospital with no immediate answers. And by the end of the week, my husband and I were sitting in the emergency room with our younger daughter.
Whew! High. Low. High. Low.
Friend, maybe your life lately hasn’t looked exactly like mine, but you know the rhythm. One moment you’re at the peak of life, thanking God — the next moment you’re in a valley, asking Him, What is happening right now?
My recent experience brought me back to 1 Kings 20:28
“...This is what the LORD says: ‘Because the Arameans think the LORD is a god of the hills and not a god of the valleys, I will deliver this vast army into your hands, and you will know that I am the LORD.’”
At the time when King Ahab of Israel heard this prophecy from God, it was common for pagans to believe that gods had specific domains. The enemies of the Israelites believed God had power only in certain places like "the hills," as though His victories were limited to geography or visible moments of strength.
But God made it clear this assumption was wrong. He does not operate that way. His presence is not confined or restricted, and His power is not limited, seasonal, or situational. He is just as present in the valley as He is on the hill.
To me, this became a gentle reminder that God’s presence is not tied to my circumstances. His peace does not rise and fall with my situation, and His love does not depend on whether I am celebrating or simply surviving.
If I’m being transparent, my life doesn’t always reflect this truth. Sometimes I praise God louder when things are going well and have a harder time recognizing Him when they’re not. And yet He remains unchanged.
The beauty of it all is that God invites us to meet Him in every place. Not only is He there for us when life is good or when it makes sense, but He's also right in the middle of our pain. We can seek Him wherever we are because that’s where He already is.
Lord, thank You for being the same in every season of my life. Help me trust You to be just as present in the valleys as You are on the hills. No matter what I face, may I always root my heart in Your peace. In Jesus name, amen.
