“Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
    whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.
⁶ As they pass through the Valley of Baca,
    they make it a place of springs;
    the autumn rains also cover it with pools.
⁷ They go from strength to strength,
    till each appears before God in Zion.”

Psalm 84: 5-7

I love this psalm because it speaks of the journey we all take with God.  In our quest to know and be known by God in a more intimate way, we travel through many different seasons and terrains.  This particular passage speaks of those times that we are in a season of weeping or hardship.

Baca-a word, a place. The Valley of Baca is described by Holman’s Bible dictionary as-

• Hebrew – Baca BACA
(bay’ cuh) Place name meaning, “Balsam tree” or “weeping.” A valley in Psalms 84:6 which reflects a poetic play on words describing a person forced to go through a time of weeping who found God turned tears into a well, providing water.

I have spent time meditating on verse seven, in which these people move from “strength to strength.”  What does that mean?  I honestly don’t know what the psalmist meant, but this is what the Lord has put on my heart today.

In a couple of weeks we are going to spend a day serving many who are in their own valleys of Baca.  As part of the Magic City Miracle, we will be serving the hungry, battered women, the homeless and the sick.  For these that are in these places of dependence and vulnerability, what are the strengths they are leaning on during this season?

We are.  We are the servants that God has sent to be their strength for this part of their journey.  Our love, compassion, and witness will serve to point them to a God that loves them and has not forsaken them.  What a wonderful privilege.

You can find information on all the service opportunities at the MCM website:

http://www.magiccitymiracle.org

Almighty God,

Thank You for the opportunities You give all of us to grow closer to You.  We praise You in times of blessing and times of trial.  Gives us compassion, Lord, to help those in their valleys.  And give us humility, to accept the help of others when our valleys come.  May You be glorified in all stages of our lives, my King.  And may we continue to witness to Your faithfulness.

In Jesus’ name we pray,

Amen