ISAIAH 50:10 – Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the voice of his servant? Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God.”
Today’s theme is not talking about electricity. No, this isn’t about a storm knocking out power lines. We are referring to what Isaiah describes–the Christian encountering spiritual darkness, seasons when we feel alone, abandoned, and God appears nowhere. His Word is read and it feels lifeless. Prayer is cold and mechanical. Church is a duty to endure not a practice to enjoy. And so often in these dry and dark periods, as they seem to go on forever, we cry out in our impatience like David, “How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?” (Psalm 13:1-2). Yet, it is important we understand a couple of things when the spiritual lights go out in our lives.
First, don’t immediately start dissecting everything in your life looking for some sin that has caused such a painful experience. Yes, God will chastise us for sin not dealt with and He often uses the loss of a sense of His Presence (that is the definition of “when the lights go out”) to accomplish our confession and repentance. However, sin is not always the cause for this dark season. Go back and look at today’s scripture. The believer in darkness is not sinning, but actually walking in the fear of God and obeying Him! And what happened? The lights went out. So, don’t “rake ourselves across the fiery coals of a condemning conscience” looking for some sin. Be mindful and ask God to search us, but don’t be the “sin police” thinking something is dead wrong in our lives leading to this darkness. We might be like the believer in today’s scripture which leads to the purposes God has for us when the lights go out.
In those dark seasons, we are building a stable and firm faith; one rooted in who God is revealed by His Name and who God is in our relationship with Him–“trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God.” We need this because of how easily we rely on circumstances and emotions, not truth and faith. And God loves us so much, He will turn off the lights to force us to rely upon His name and person.
Remember, what the Apostle Paul said of the Christian life, “We walk by faith, not sight”(2 Corinthians 5:7). And that walk is only learned by the Christian who experiences those seasons when God turns out the lights! Trust Him in those times. When we learn the lessons He has for us, the switch will be turned on again and we will enjoy the brilliance of His lovely Presence.
PRAYER: “Father, help me to see dark times are to be growing times; growing in my trust of You.”
QUOTE: “Spiritual darkness is not always due to sin. God turns the lights out to teach us faith without feelings.”
Because of Him,
Pastor Jim