God is Greater Than the Highs and Lows

You’ve probably heard this said in one way or another. God is greater than your highest highs and your lowest lows. God is the God of the highest mountaintops and the lowest valleys. You’ve seen it on printed on t-shirts and shared on Instagram posts.

God is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. He is with us on our best days and our worst days. In this post, we’ll share what the saying means, and why you can trust that it’s true. Our hope is that you’ll be encouraged and be able to see God in every moment of your life.

The saying that God is greater than the highs and the lows usually comes from the story in 1 Kings 20.

Afterward, the prophet came to the king of Israel and said, “Strengthen your position and see what must be done, because next spring the king of Aram will attack you again.” Meanwhile, the officials of the king of Aram advised him, “Their gods are gods of the hills. That is why they were too strong for us. But if we fight them on the plains, surely we will be stronger than they. Do this: Remove all the kings from their commands and replace them with other officers. You must also raise an army like the one you lost—horse for horse and chariot for chariot—so we can fight Israel on the plains. Then surely we will be stronger than they.” He agreed with them and acted accordingly. The next spring Ben-Hadad mustered the Arameans and went up to Aphek to fight against Israel. When the Israelites were also mustered and given provisions, they marched out to meet them. The Israelites camped opposite them like two small flocks of goats, while the Arameans covered the countryside. The man of God came up and told the king of Israel, “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.’”
1 Kings 20:22-28 NIV

Throughout the Old Testament, God’s deliverance and victory is seen on the mountaintops. When the flood ends, the ark finally rests on the top of Mount Ararat. Then Moses receives the 10 Commandments on a mountaintop. Then he’s shown the promised land from the mountaintop.

Later, when the Israelites are fighting a battle, Moses, Aaron, and Hur are standing on a mountaintop and are the reason for their victory.

It’s clear that God is able to bring victory on the mountaintop. It’s easy to believe that God is good when our circumstances are good.

Higher ground signifies authority and gives the army a clear advantage. Whoever is on the top of a mountain, or occupying the higher ground is the one in control. And whoever is in the valley is disadvantaged.

It makes sense why the Arameans would believe that God is the God of the mountaintops and not the God of the valleys. They heard about God bringing victory from the mountaintop, but not in the valley.

The Arameans wanted to battle the Israelites in the valley because they believed God wouldn’t help them. We often fall into the same belief. When we’re having difficulties, or experience a tragedy, we think that God has abandon us or left us to fight for ourself. Being in a valley is lonely and often leaves us feeling defeated.

God is our ever-present help

“God is our refuge and strength [mighty and impenetrable], A very present and well-proved help in trouble.”
Psalm 46:1 AMP

We need to know and believe that God is always available and ready to help us. Even when we don’t see God’s hand in our life, He never leaves our side. Nothing can separate us from His love.

David experienced troubles more severe than most of us could ever imagine. David was faced with deadly circumstances throughout his life. Even as a young man, David entered a terrifying situation when he went into a valley to fight Goliath. David was able to overcome the challenge because he knew that God was present with him in the valley.

Later on, Saul would send an entire army to find and kill David. Imagine a whole army on a mission to take your life. Nothing could save us other than God Himself. God is our ever-present help when we’re faced with challenges of any size and shape.

Who do you worship on the mountaintop?

“I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.”
Psalm 9:1 NIV

What is your response when your life is going well? Do you still pray and seek God when you don’t need your circumstances to change? If you can pay all of your bills, everyone is healthy, and life is good, why do you need God’s help?

This can lead us to a life full of ups and downs. No relationship is sustainable when it’s based on circumstances. Imagine a marriage where the spouses only love each other when it’s convenient. Or a parent who is only available when their children are in desperate need of help.

That’s unsustainable.

We need to understand that God is better than our best days, and that He is present with us even when we don’t feel like we need any help. God’s desire is to celebrate and rejoice with us, not just be there when we’re in need.

During the mountaintop experience, we should be giving the glory to God. We should be telling people about the wonderful things He’s done for us.

In Revelation 4, John describes a vision of elders casting their crowns at the feet of Jesus:

The twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
“You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being.”
Revelation 4:10-11 NIV

That should be what our response looks like. Even our best accomplishments and best days will seem insignificant in comparison to Jesus. Only Jesus is worthy of our praise and worship.