To Everything There Is a Season

My dear sisters (and brothers) of The Valley,

Ecclesiastes 3 begins with the well-known verse,

To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven.

The next seven verses continue with a list of times, a time for this and a time for that.

It’s not on the list, but I think we can include the idea: a time to write, and a time not to write.

The Valley blog and website began four years ago, pretty much to the day. (August 27, 2020, was our first blog post.)

It feels like The Valley has always been a part of my life, an outlet for the lessons and blessings God brings my way, an opportunity to share the stories and words of other Christian women in chronic illness.

So it’s hard to voice (well, type) the words that my season with The Valley is ending.

This isn’t a sudden decision. I can look back and see how God has gently been preparing my heart for this season. A year ago, I would have absolutely refused to consider giving up The Valley. I had too much invested in it. It was too much a part of me. It was where I found so much of myself.

During one of my conversations with Janeen early this year, however, I remember telling her I had reached the point that if God called me to step away from The Valley, I would be okay with it.

Well, He has. And I am.

There are a few reasons, and in the spirit of transparency that has been foundational to this blog, I wanted to share them with you.

This spring, Janeen stepped down from her role of mentor/partner in order to step into some long-prayed-for ministry opportunities at her church. I couldn’t be happier for her as she answers God’s call in her local community.

When no other names or people came across my radar for partnership in the weeks that followed, I knew it was another whisper from the Lord that it would soon be time to step down myself. I don’t want to (nor should I) be the only person behind a ministry like this, for the sake of both personal accountability and sharing ministry burdens. I don’t want this to be Melissa’s blog; it’s God’s, and without someone else to share it with right now, I need to step back.

My health has also seen improvement over the last year, by God’s kindness. In tandem with this improved capacity, He has given me a greater workload, particularly with a new position at my job starting this fall. I can only do so much. To simplify these demands, it’s best for me to conclude my season with The Valley.

Finally, I want to get more involved in my local church. When my health was a significant impediment to my local church attendance, I was able to pour into The Valley instead. Now that I’m able to be present more regularly with my brothers and sisters, I feel called to pick up the ministries I bypassed before. Online ministry is good, and needed too, but I believe my priority needs to be the church where God has placed me right now.

That doesn’t mean it’s not hard to say goodbye. I’ve poured my heart, soul, and walk with the Lord into this blog—all the pains of living with chronic illness and all the joys of knowing God. You’ve seen parts of me that many of my friends and family haven’t even seen.

I’ve grown so much through writing out the things God has taught me, and I hope it’s been a blessing to you too.

(I don’t think it’s coincidence that the last article I wrote was about passing on the baton of what we’ve learned about God. After four years of writing for The Valley, I pass on the baton to you—to continue pursuing your relationship with God and sharing what you’ve learned with others.)

Now what?

I won’t say I’m never going to post again. There are still article ideas I haven’t written and others’ stories that could be shared. You may get an occasional post in your inbox, as God directs.

Maybe, if God opens the door with the right person, at the right time, the regular blog schedule might resume. But only if He makes it VERY clear.

Beyond the blog, I would love to compile some of these articles into a book to publish someday, a collection of devotionals and testimonies for Christian women with chronic illness. When my plate isn’t so full with other things.

For now, however, the blog will go silent. But it will stay on the internet, as will the website with the free devotional and the other resources. Please continue to share these posts and pages with others who can be encouraged by them.

Let me end by saying, whether you’re a recent subscriber or a long-time follower, thank you. Thank you for reading each post. Thank you for opening your heart to God’s Word and the words of His followers. Thank you for leaving your sweet comments of encouragement. I appreciate you so much and wish I could give each one of you a big hug.

I pray God will watch over, guide, and direct all of you as you continue to walk through your valley. Know that He has you—and your valley—in His hands, and His goodness is over all His works. You are His, precious in His sight, and one day He will make all things new.

Until then, stay close to Him. Seek Him and Him alone, because He alone is worth it.

In His grace,
Melissa