The View from the Valley
The View from the Valley
Reverend Dr. Raymond L. Smith
If you stand at the foot of a great mountain, all you can see is the rock and the dirt directly in front of your face. From that vantage point, the mountain feels less like a wonder and more like a wall.
But from the cockpit of a plane, the view changes. You see that what once looked like an immovable barrier is actually just one peak in a vast range stretching across a continent.
Many of us are living life at the foot of the mountain. We see a wall of debt, a wall of grief, or a wall of fear, and we tell ourselves: This is all there is.
But I am here to tell you today: God is bigger than what you can see.
Scripture tells us that God is not merely standing beside the mountain, but that “He weighs the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance (Isaiah 40:12). What feels overwhelming to us is measurable to Him. What feels immovable to us is already held in His hands.
Today, God is inviting us to move from sight to faith, to lift our eyes from the valley floor and trust the God who sees the whole range.
An Anchor for Our Faith
Psalm 147:5 declares: “Great is our Lord, and of great power: His understanding is infinite.”
That word infinite is an anchor for our souls. It means without end, without limit, beyond measurement. If God’s understanding is infinite, then there is nothing in your life that has surprised Him. There is no problem you face that He has not already seen, understood, and made provision for... long before you arrived at it.
And we know this is true because of the cross.
They hung Him high and stretched Him wide.
He bowed His head, and He died.
He descended into the depths and rose with the keys of death and hell...
a living testimony that all power belongs to God.
The valley did not defeat Him. The grave could not hold Him. And whatever stands before you today does not have the final word.
Invoking the Bigness of God
Heavenly Father, we come before You humbled. We confess that too often we shrink You down to the size of our problems. We focus on what surrounds us and forget that You sit upon the circle of the earth, that heaven is Your throne, and all creation rests within Your care.
Lord, for anyone here today who feels like their world is closing in, reveal Your vastness. When they encounter a “no,” remind them that You are the Alpha and the Omega. When they believe their story is finished, remind them that You are the Author of eternity.
Help us not to fix our eyes on the giants in our path, but on the God who holds those giants in the palm of His hand. Expand our vision, O Lord, until we see not only our circumstances, but Your glory at work within them.
We pray this in the mighty and matchless name of Jesus Christ.
Amen.
About Reverend Dr. Raymond Smith
Reverend Dr. Raymond Smith is a Christian Psychologist, Counselor, and Minister whose life’s mission is to guide individuals through life’s challenges with wisdom, compassion, and unwavering faith.
With a unique blend of academic excellence and spiritual depth, Reverend Dr. Smith is a highly respected motivational speaker and teacher, known for helping people ignite personal growth and create lasting change. His work combines the truths of Scripture with the principles of psychology to bring healing, clarity, and renewed purpose.
Reverend Dr. Smith holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling and a Doctorate in Christian Counseling with an Emphasis on Psychology. He currently serves as the Program Director of NovaPaths THP, where he continues to lead with vision, mentor with heart, and empower others through impactful outreach.
One of his signature teachings, “If You Can Change Your Mind, You Can Change Your Life,” is a powerful one-hour training session designed to help individuals reframe their thinking and embrace a new path forward. It’s a transformative experience you won’t want to miss.
[Learn More and Register Here]
Experience a New Life in Jesus Christ
If you have not yet experienced the life-changing power of a relationship with Christ, we invite you to open your heart to Him today. Embrace the truth of His resurrection and embark on a journey of transformation, guided by His presence and fueled by His mission of love and redemption.
The Bible teaches us in Romans 10:9-10 that “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart one believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses, resulting in salvation.”
Do it today and start enjoying a new life in Jesus Christ.
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Scriptures for this Bible Study taken from the New American Standard Bible (NASB), © 2026 The Lockman Foundation. Used with permission. www.Bible.com
“The View from the Valley” is a Christian Bible Teaching by Reverend Dr. Raymond L Smith and presented by Second Ridge Ministries
01/21/2026 | © 2026 Second Ridge Ministries. All Rights Reserved.
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The mountain vs valley perspective really resonated with me. I remembr going through a tough finacial patch last year where everything felt like a wall, but stepping back and looking at the bigger picture helped me realize it was just one season. The reminder that God weighs mountains in scales is powerful when you're stuck at the base looking up.