Mountains, Valleys, and Plains

It’s been an eventful month for our ministry—literally.

Just a few weeks ago, we had our fall retreat, where 270 of our students spent the weekend learning to trust God, building friendships, and being absolute goofballs. I was able to have some incredibly deep conversations with our students (which always seem to happen right when I’m about to go to bed). I also saw so many students diving deep with each other and with God.

The week after that, a group of our students hosted a Hispanic Worship Night to give us a glimpse into how their heritage has shaped their walk with God. It was such a sweet evening—full of fun, celebration, and powerful testimonies. Next week, we’re having a united worship night with eight other ministries on campus, and I’m excited to see how God moves!

In the midst of all these events, I’ve been reflecting on what often feel like mountaintop experiences. We sometimes call them camp highs—those seasons when you feel like you’re up on the mountain with God, like Moses at Sinai or the disciples during the transfiguration. Most of us know how fleeting those moments can be though.

What I see again and again in our students is this desire to camp out in those mountaintop moments. They’re like Peter, wanting to set up tents to stay in the ecstasy of the transfiguration’s glory. But Jesus leads the disciples back down the mountain. Moses eventually comes down, too.

These mountaintop experiences are sweet and meaningful, and God really does work through them so seeking them out isn’t a bad thing! But it can become harmful when we start to think that if we’re not constantly living in those moments, we’re doing something wrong.

God is just as present in the plains and valleys as He is on the mountain. Sure, some people seem to live up there, but that’s not most of us. Most of us live in the plains, and that’s okay! God works in the plains. He leads us up the mountain when we need to be there, and He walks with us in the valleys when we find ourselves there too.

I’ve been trying to help our students understand this because I see so much guilt and shame around not being able to “stay on the mountain.” In those moments, it’s easy to miss how God is still working right where we are. He’s in the mountains, the valleys, and the plains, and realizing that can be incredibly freeing. I hope that truth is as encouraging to you as it’s been to me.

Before I wrap up, I also want to highlight that Keep FOCUS Growing is right around the corner! This is our annual fundraiser that helps FOCUS take the next steps in building God’s kingdom. The money we raise each year not only helps us function as an organization but also funds new campus plants, expands existing ministries, and supports what God is calling us too next.

You all have already been so generous, and I’m beyond blessed by your support. But if you’d consider giving towards this—not just to support me personally, but to invest in what God is doing across DFW—I’d be deeply grateful!