After the Mountaintop Comes the Valley
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. - Matthew 4:1
Spiritual victory is often followed by spiritual attack.
Jesus experienced a powerful moment at His baptism. The heavens opened. The Spirit descended like a dove. The Father spoke words of affirmation. This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. If you were writing the story, you would expect the next scene to be applause, influence, and public ministry.
Instead, Jesus was led into the wilderness.
He went from heart-to-heart with the Father to face-to-face with the devil. And notice who led Him there. The Spirit of God. This was not accidental. This was intentional preparation.
Mountaintop moments are real. Revival seasons are real. Spiritual highs are real. But Scripture makes it clear that after moments of victory, the enemy often shows up to challenge what God has just affirmed.
The devil’s goal is not to destroy what God has done. It is to make you doubt it.
Jesus had just heard His identity declared. Immediately, the devil began questioning it. If you are the Son of God. The enemy does not need you to abandon faith. He only needs you to question it.
This is why preparation matters. Wilderness seasons do not mean God has abandoned you. They often mean He is strengthening you for what comes next.
Jesus did not fail in the valley because He was prepared before He entered it. Victory was not won in the moment of temptation. It was secured in the unseen disciplines that came before.
Spiritual victory is often followed by spiritual attack.
Jesus experienced a powerful moment at His baptism. The heavens opened. The Spirit descended like a dove. The Father spoke words of affirmation. This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. If you were writing the story, you would expect the next scene to be applause, influence, and public ministry.
Instead, Jesus was led into the wilderness.
He went from heart-to-heart with the Father to face-to-face with the devil. And notice who led Him there. The Spirit of God. This was not accidental. This was intentional preparation.
Mountaintop moments are real. Revival seasons are real. Spiritual highs are real. But Scripture makes it clear that after moments of victory, the enemy often shows up to challenge what God has just affirmed.
The devil’s goal is not to destroy what God has done. It is to make you doubt it.
Jesus had just heard His identity declared. Immediately, the devil began questioning it. If you are the Son of God. The enemy does not need you to abandon faith. He only needs you to question it.
This is why preparation matters. Wilderness seasons do not mean God has abandoned you. They often mean He is strengthening you for what comes next.
Jesus did not fail in the valley because He was prepared before He entered it. Victory was not won in the moment of temptation. It was secured in the unseen disciplines that came before.
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