Before You Climb Any Higher: Valley Wisdom for Mountain Dreams

by Thomas Nelson

Publisher:

Thomas Nelson

, 2025

We long for mountaintop experiences, but they’re difficult to achieve and impossible to maintain without the rest, nourishment, and strength found in lush, life-giving valleys. GRAMMY Award winner Jonathan McReynolds shows us why having a valley mindset is not what you think—it’s about receiving God’s grace, love, and encouragement as His beloved child. 

Life is full of mountains to ascend, driven by our dreams, ambitions, and callings. But it doesn’t take much for even the strongest climbers to grow weary or lose their way. It’s important to have a “mountain mindset” to help us establish goals, to make steady progress, to achieve success, to do big things for God. A great mission requires from us a little grind, a little hustle, a little competition. But also plenty of time in the valley.

Most people equate valley moments with difficulty and pain, but a “valley mentality” is different according to Jonathan McReynolds. He’s reached the mountaintop—GRAMMY Award, nationwide tours, millions of followers, and more—but he experienced more refreshment, rest, and encouragement from the Lord off the mountain. He writes, “The valley is not about finishing anything, studying anything, or doing anything, but simply being a child of God.” In Before You Climb Any Higher, readers will discover: 

• Taking breaks from climbing is necessary for your mental health
• Ways to find rest, renewal, and authentic community in the valley
• Identity should never be wrapped up in success and accolades
• How to prepare for the mountain climb with lessons learned in the valley
• It’s possible to live abundantly in the valley and on the mountain

 

We are more than our accomplishments, more than our mountaintop accomplishments. We are sons and daughters of God, who is calling us to rest in the valley, to replenish our souls, to be formed by the Spirit, to discover abundant life that is found only in Him.

Product Details

• Title: Before You Climb Any Higher: Valley Wisdom for Mountain Dreams
• Author: Thomas Nelson
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson
• Print Publication Date: 2025
• Logos Release Date: 2024
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Ebook
• ISBNs: 9781400338887, 9781400338870, 1400338875, 9781400338894, 1400338891, 1400338883
• Resource ID: LLS:9781400338887
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2024-09-17T06:14:56Z

About Thomas Nelson

Thomas Nelson Publishing began in a village in Scotland over 200 years ago and now the enterprise employs over 600 people. Thomas Nelson's goal has been to honor God and serve people. It started out as a second-hand bookshop in Edinburgh and Thomas also wanted to publish his own materials. He wanted to provide affordable Christian works and classic literature for the "common folk". Thomas Nelson's growing reputation for integrity and enthusiasm caused this enterprise to flourish.