Everyone is familiar with the expression, "Oh, no!" When something goes wrong, or we get into trouble, the first thing we say is, "Oh, no!"

Many of you may have trouble so deep, it feels like you are living in the valley of "Ono."


It's true that trouble will come in this life. Jesus said we would have tribulation, but He would enable us to overcome it. With love, faith and zeal, God can empower us to travel through the valley of "Ono" without a scratch.

Pressing Through Ono
Nehemiah, a cupbearer for the king in the palace in Shushan, was quite familiar with peril. Just like you and me, he'd traveled through the valley of "Ono" more than once. Yet Nehemiah never chose to stay very long. He relied upon his faith in a loving and merciful Father to get him through the valley of "Ono" every time.

One day men traveling from Judah brought Nehemiah some terrible news from Jerusalem. The children of Israel were in great affliction, the wall of Jerusalem was broken down, and its gates were burned.

When Nehemiah heard this news he cried, "Oh, no!" He wept and mourned, fasted and fervently prayed for days. He cried out to God for mercy and forgiveness for the sins of the nation. In turn, God gave him a vision to rebuild the wall and restore the people.

After receiving permission and supplies from the king, he went to Jerusalem to fulfill his vision. When he arrived and surveyed the extensive damage, he had yet another opportunity to cry, "Oh, no!" Instead he gathered the people together and shared his vision.

Others May Mock You
As the people prepared for the work that was ahead, the surrounding nations laughed and scorned them. They said it couldn't be done.

Did you ever notice that when people get in the realm of the impossible, that's when things start to happen? When everybody says it can't be done, God has an opportunity to produce a manifestation for the world to see.

Nehemiah, confident in the love of God, focused on his vision and began to rebuild the wall. While the people of Israel worked together, their enemies continued to mock them, conspiring together to fight against Jerusalem and hinder the building.

Now it came to pass, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had builded the wall, and that there was no breach left therein (though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates);

That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, "Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono." But they thought to do me mischief. And I sent messengers unto them, saying, "I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?"

Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner.
(Neh. 6:1-4)

Nehemiah knew that the valley of "Ono" meant trouble for him. But instead of cowering in fear, he prayed, set up watch and continued building.

Has God ever told you to do something and you said, "Oh, no!" Has He ever told you to invite your father and mother to your church when they already think you're crazy?

You've invited them regularly for years. You've prayed for God to get them there, save them, touch them and bless them so they won't go to hell. Finally, one Sunday morning they walk in the door of your church and first thing you say is, "Oh, no!"

Next you are praying, "Okay God, don't let that crazy man jump up and speak in tongues. Oh, and God, get rid of Sister So-n-so. You know when she speaks in tongues she just drools all over everybody."

Don't Make Excuses For God
What you are really asking God for is a nice, calm, dead service. Then the first thing you try to do is prepare your parents for the worst when you should be preparing them for the best.

But you don't need to make excuses for God or His ways. Remember, they were originally created to serve God. His Holy Spirit will use the love and power of God ministering life to the people in that church to tug on their hearts.

When God tells you He wants you to do something, He wants you to give your all. You must commit, discipline and dedicate yourself to the work.

Don't say, "Oh, God, I don't want to do that." If you disobey, you are working against God instead of working for God. You begin to take on the nature of Satan through your disobedience to God.

The reason most people say "Oh, no!" is because they have never crucified their flesh to receive the fullness of the teaching the Holy Ghost wants to give.

Don't be swayed from trusting in God just because you are in the valley of "Ono"! He's with you always, even when you're in the valley. You may not feel Him, but He is there.

Source: The Ministry of Cheerfulness by Jesse Duplantis
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers