We love mountaintop moments—times when God feels close, prayers are clear, and faith feels strong. But real life is lived in the valley—where things get messy, confusing, and hard.
In Matthew 17, Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up a mountain. There, He is transfigured—His face shines like the sun, His clothes glow white, and Moses and Elijah appear beside Him. Then a voice from heaven says, “This is my Son, whom I love; listen to Him.”
It’s a breathtaking moment—a glimpse of Jesus’ true glory.
But immediately after, they come down the mountain into chaos: a desperate father begging for his tormented son’s healing. From divine glory to human pain—the mountain to the mess. That’s the rhythm of our faith. God gives us mountaintop experiences so we can carry His light into our everyday valleys.
We have those same moments—at church, camp, worship, or prayer—when God’s presence feels real. Yet faith grows not by staying on the mountain, but by trusting God when life gets hard. The Bible is our guide for that journey. It’s not just an ancient book—it’s an instruction manual for living like Jesus and a love letter from our Creator to us in 2025. Thanks to Bible apps, we carry God’s Word everywhere—our “spiritual food” always within reach (Matthew 4:4).
Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 4:7, “We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” We’re fragile and imperfect, but God’s light shines through our cracks. We don’t have to pretend to have it all together; God works powerfully through honesty and weakness.
When the disciples couldn’t heal the boy, Jesus showed that real power comes from faith in Him, not ourselves. Even “faith as small as a mustard seed” can move mountains.
So how do we live between the mountain and the mess?
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Cherish the mountain, but bring its lessons to the valley.
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Feed on God’s Word daily—through Scripture, devotions, or the Bible app.
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Be real about your struggles. God’s strength shines through weakness.
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Rely on Jesus’ power, not your own.
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Stand firm in faith, remembering the glory that’s coming—when Jesus transforms us to be like Him (Philippians 3:21).
Our faith isn’t about escaping life’s mess; it’s about bringing God’s glory into it. The same Jesus who shone on the mountain walks with us in the valley. Let’s carry His light into our world, trusting that even in the mess, His grace is shining through.
Pastor Dennis felt called into ministry at a young age when he was miraculously healed of a speech impediment at a gospel revival. While other kids were playing cops and robbers, Dennis was playing church with his brother, David and sister, Dee. He married his beautiful bride, Sharon in 1973 and began working his way through college, majoring in Biblical Studies at Tomlinson College. He pursued every opportunity for ministry from traveling evangelism to running youth camps to serving as senior pastor in several churches across Tennessee. All while continuing his education and ultimately receiving his Doctor of Philosophy in Ministry Science from Great Plains Baptist Divinity School in 2001.
Today he enjoys pastoring Grace Community Church and mentoring the next generation of leaders. In his spare time, he enjoys every minute he and Sharon get to spend with their 5 grandchildren.
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