Iyanla Vanzant - Faith in the Valley: Lessons for Women on the Journey to Peace

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Copyright 1996 by Iyanla Vanzant

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This Atria Paperback edition January 2020

Previously published in 1996 by Fireside, an imprint of Simon & Schuster

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Interior design by Chris Welch

The Library of Congress has cataloged the Fireside edition as follows:

Vanzant, Iyanla.

Faith in the valley: lessons for women on the journey to peace / Iyanla Vanzant.

p. cm.

A Fireside book.

1. Afro-American women-Prayer-books and devotions-English. 2. Peace-Religious aspects-Meditations. I. Title.

BL625.2.V36 1996

158.12082-dc2096-11894 CIP

ISBN 978-0-684-80113-1

ISBN 978-0-7432-2645-5 (ebook)

A ll of my work is a community effort: the community of people who love and support me, give me the inspiration to continue on the path. I salute you! I honor you! I love you!

God, my Father, my Mother, the spirit through which I live. I continue to surrender my will, my way, the fear that I wont do it right, on time, or in a way that makes people happy. Finally, I understand that God Is Enough!

The Inner Vision Spiritual Life Maintenance Team, Adara Walton, Almasi Zulu, Ebun Adelona, Erica Jackson, Gemmia Vanzant, Helen Jones, Janet Barber, Judith Hakimah, Lucille Gambrell, Mama Muhsinah Berry Dawan, and Fern Robinson, whose faith in me keeps me on target, without whose support I would miss the mark.

Joia Louise Jefferson, who knows everything I need to know and reminds me that I know it too! Thank you for being so willing to grow with me.

Ken and Renee Kizer, my re-birth coaches, who taught me how to breathe, who breathe with me and sometimes for me, taking me to the deepest depths of my soul, the place in me that is God. As Ken would say, How much love can I stand?!!

Fana Ifeula and the staff of The Other Eden, who know how to work my kinks out and remind me to take care of the vessel.

Rev. Cochise and Vivianna Brown, who keep me cleaned out so I can go within.

Rev. Dr. Fernette Nichols, whose sermons on tape kept me grounded and in the spirit during my labor to birth this book.

Carol Ellis, an angel of God, with fingers of lightning speed, who landed in my driveway in the nick of time, to type, edit, and support the birth of this baby.

Dawn Daniels, my editor; Denise Stinson, my agent; Shaheerah Stevens, my best friend; Marge Battle, my voice of reason; you are my foundation and the fire in my spirit.

Yu, the other half of me who keeps me praying, praising, and practicing the presence.

Dedicated to the Memory of the Great, Grand Diva Miss Phyllis Hyman and Her Sisters Butterfly McQueen, Rosalind Cash, Roxie Roker, Madge Sinclair and My Sister-Friend Dorothea Lois Dowell

I will always love you, my SISTAHS!

Theres a lily in the valley.

T he Value in the Valley is more than just another book we can read to get hints and tips on how to improve ourselves and our lives. It is a process, with steps and principles designed to raise our consciousness and our spiritual and emotional well-being. In the book, valleys are described as, those tight spots, dark places, uncomfortable situations we think make our lives so miserable. We all know about valleys. We have all had valley experiences: lonely, painful, confusing experiences we may believe we do not deserve, should not have, or cannot get out of. In the process of a valley experience, we often miss the lesson. A valley is a life situation designed to teach us the character traits and spiritual virtues that are undeveloped or underdeveloped during our life experiences. Valleys help us stretch, reach, and grow into our greatest potential. However, even when you know what a valley is and its potential good, you want to know what to do, how to behave in the midst of the experience. Thats when you can turn to Faith in the Valley.

When you are trying to stay out of a valley, trying to get out of a valley, or engaging in behavior that will take you into a valley, there is probably a dominant thought raging in your mind. Oh Lord! Why me?!! What the hell am I gonna do now?!! When we are experiencing emotional stress or pressure, these thoughts become our affirmations. These are the things we say to our girlfriends when we are telling our story. They are also the things we say to ourselves when the story is too unbelievable to repeat! Unfortunately, when we are headed for or in the midst of a valley experience, we do not realize that what we think and what we say enhances the experience. The bad news is, most of the time we think and talk ourselves right into the valley. The good news is, we can use thoughts and words to get out.

Faith in the Valley is your life-support equipment. The commentaries in this book are written to support you in transforming dominant thought patterns, behaviors, attitudes, and self-defeating affirmations that can take you into the valley. Each commentary will provide you with insight about the lesson you can learn in the midst of a tragic, difficult, or frightening experience. Some commentaries will provide you with a new or different perspective on what may appear to be a problematic or confusing situation. Sometimes, a change of perspective may be all that it will take to transform a painful, frustrating, or shameful experience into an empowering growth experience. Whether you believe it or not, your thoughts and words determine your reality. When you change your mind, you can change your life.

Faith in the Valley is meant to support and enhance what you gleaned from The Value in the Valley, though it will work just as well if you have not read that book. The key to having faith when you are in the valley is knowing how to use the index of this book. The index in Faith in the Valley lists many of the things we say when we find ourselves in difficult situations. What we say is a reflection of what we think. What we think is the key to the lesson we need to learn. Because valley experiences teach us lessons, each affirmation has been ascribed to a particular valley. If you have The Value in the Valley, you may want to read the chapter under which the affirmation is listed in order to gain a better understanding of your particular experience. If you do not have that book, read the commentary and reflect on the message given.

At the right side of each page you will find a word or a list of words that relates to the commentary. These are lessons clues. This is what you are growing through. The words listed will give you a clue about the lesson you must learn or the principle you must apply to the details of your situation. In some cases it will probably be the most difficult thing you can imagine and the very thing you are resisting. DO NOT RESIST YOUR LESSONS ! Resistance will push you deeper into the darkness of a valley experience. Trust Spirit! Trust yourself! Above all else, trust the process of your growth!