* In Genesis 41:52 Joseph named his son Ephraim, which means “God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.”

* He realized that the suffering and strain of his life made him strong.

* God always puts you through a tight spot before you reach a spacious place.

* It’s the tight spot that prepares you for the spacious place.

* EX: Caterpillar in the cocoon.

* ** Moses is preparing the people to enter the Promised Land - he reminds them of their history.

* Vs 20-22 - they went through 450 years of slavery (from 70 to a million people).

* Mountains & Valleys

* Valleys don’t exist apart from Mountains (otherwise it would be flatland).

* The rhythm of our life should be:

* From one valley to the next by way of the mountain.

* NOT, from one mountain to the next by way of the valley.

* Life is in the valley, not the mountain.

* But we’re not meant to stay in the same valley or on the mountain.

* We’re supposed to move forward, from one to the next.

* God uses one valley to prepare us for what’s in the next valley.

* But He takes us to the mountain to get there.

* EX: Jesus transfigured on the mountain with the three disciples.

* Two Keys:

* 1) The mountain is about PROMOTION (new job, more money, marriage, new baby, etc).

* 2) The valley is about PREPARATION (it gets you ready for the next valley).

* Valleys are where growth takes place.

* Mountains are entryways to your next valley.

* KEY - if you’re not faithful in today’s valley you won’t hav ether grace to handle the mountain or the next valley.