Fruit in the Valley - Lessons from the Mountain

I don’t usually scroll through old photos on my phone or laptop, but recently I found myself captivated by pictures from my first trip to Colorado.

Though I’ve always enjoyed the ocean, there’s something about the mountains that stirs a deeper sense of home in me.

One photo brought back a vivid memory - our hike to the Missouri Lakes in the Holy Cross Wilderness. At over 11,000 feet, the view from the summit was breathtaking. Crystal-clear lakes reflected the sky, and patches of snow still clung to the peaks, even in mid-August. It was a sacred kind of beauty.

But just after lunch, a storm rolled in. Though I longed to linger on the mountaintop, we had to pack up quickly and begin our descent.

I remember thinking, “Can’t we stay a little longer?”

That question echoes another moment - this time in Scripture - when Peter, caught up in the glory of the Transfiguration, said to Jesus:

“Master, it’s wonderful for us to be here! Let’s make three shelters as memorials - one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” (Luke 9:33 NLT)

Peter wanted to stay in that holy moment, to preserve it. But Jesus didn’t allow them to stay on the mountain. He led them back down - toward the valley, toward the cross, and ultimately, toward the needs of the world.

Mountaintop experiences are holy and refreshing, but they aren’t the end of the journey. They prepare us for the valley - where life is lived, where people hurt, and where real growth happens.

In fact, the valley is where the fruit grows. As Jesus said:

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit...” (John 15:5 ESV)

Whether on the mountain or in the valley, our fruitfulness depends not on the scenery but on our connection to Christ.

It’s okay to climb the mountain and even linger there for a while. But don’t forget - the valley is where the harvest is.