A Glimpse of Glory in the Valley of Suffering
Maria had always believed in God’s goodness. She had taught her children to pray, to trust in Jesus, and to find comfort in His promises. But when her eight-year-old daughter, Sophie, was diagnosed with a serious illness, her faith was shaken to its core.
At first, Maria clung to prayer like a lifeline, believing that if she just prayed hard enough, God would heal Sophie quickly. But as days turned into weeks and weeks into months, the hospital visits grew longer, the treatments harsher, and Sophie’s little body weaker.
One night, after hours of watching her daughter sleep restlessly in a hospital bed, Maria slipped into the chapel down the hall. The dim light of the sanctuary lamp flickered before the tabernacle. She knelt, but no words came. “God, where are You?” she whispered. Doubt crept into her mind: If God is good, why is Sophie suffering? If He is powerful, why hasn’t He healed her? If He loves me, why does He feel so far away?
The Devil’s Strategies
In the valley of suffering, the devil’s voice is loud:
“If God really loved you, He wouldn’t allow this.”
“You prayed, but nothing changed. Maybe prayer is useless.”
“Others have received miracles — why not you? Maybe you don’t deserve it.”
“If you walk away from faith now, at least you won’t be disappointed again.”
Maria felt the weight of these whispers pressing down on her heart. The temptation wasn’t to do something sinful – it was to let go of faith, to stop hoping, to stop believing in God’s goodness. The next morning, exhausted and numb, she opened her Bible. Her eyes fell on the story of the Transfiguration:
“Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And He was transfigured before them…” (Mark 9:2-10).
Maria read the passage slowly. The disciples had been following Jesus for years, yet they still didn’t fully understand who He was. So, on Mount Tabor, Jesus gave them a glimpse of His divine glory — a light so bright it pierced their fear, a vision so overwhelming they fell to the ground in awe. Then came the words that struck Maria’s heart:
“This is My beloved Son. Listen to Him.”
Climbing the Mountain of Faith
Maria closed her eyes. “Lord,” she whispered, “I don’t need all the answers. I just need to see Your glory.” That prayer didn’t change Sophie’s illness overnight. But it changed Maria. She began to see small glimpses of God’s presence: in the kindness of the nurses, in the friends who brought meals to her home, in the peace she felt even in the hardest moments.
One evening, as she sat by Sophie’s bedside, her daughter opened her eyes and smiled weakly. “Mom,” she said, “I saw Jesus in my dream last night. He told me not to be afraid.” Tears filled Maria’s eyes. Sophie’s healing wouldn’t be instant. There would still be struggles. But now, Maria knew she wasn’t alone in the valley – because once you’ve seen the light on the mountain, you carry it with you.
Reflection: Seeing Glory in the Darkness
The Transfiguration wasn’t just for Jesus — it was for the disciples, to strengthen their faith before they faced the darkness of the cross. Like them, we all have our valleys of suffering. The devil will try to convince us that God is absent, that our prayers are pointless, that faith is a waste. But if we keep climbing — if we hold onto Christ even when we don’t understand — we will see His glory in ways we never imagined.
This week, ask yourself:
- Where do I need to trust God even when I don’t see the answer?
- How is the enemy tempting me to doubt God’s goodness?
- What glimpses of His presence have I overlooked?
- Faith is not about avoiding suffering – it’s about seeing God in the midst of it. Keep climbing the mountain. The light of Christ is waiting
Let us pray: Lord, we don’t need all the answers. We just need to see Your glory. Amen