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.”

THEME OF THE DAY: TRUSTING GOD WHEN ALL IS DARK.  Oh, to have every day in our walks with the Lord be on the Mount of Transfiguration!   Beholding the glory of the Lord without hindrance. Satan and sin forever bound and removed.  Endless joy filling the soul!   Heaven.  The great place of eternal rest with the  Lord of Lords and King of Kings in perfect fellowship with the saints of all time, but that day is not today.  Peter would tell us what is before that day; various and hard trials . . . Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, (1 Peter 1:3-8).

When those grief-producing trials come upon us, today’s scripture may become our experience.  The spiritual light goes out.  We will feel like the believer, yes, believer, Isaiah is describing – the child of light walking in darkness.  We seem confused about our circumstances tempting us to question God’s love.  What we see doesn’t have any resemblance of – All things work together for good for those who love God, who are the called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).  And get this . . . the child of God walking in darkness is not because of sin. It is a mysterious work of God that is truly for our good, our spiritual good.

First, walking in darkness, when we don’t feel God, “forces” us to abandon ourselves to “feeling-less” faith in the name of our Lord – Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the Lord.  And what is that name?  So many, but consider this one when all seems dark and hopeless; the Great High Priest – Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:14-16). Nothing is more uplifting and enlightening to the darkened soul than to know the King of Kings, the Lord Jesus is our High Priest, not sometimes, but all the time, is praying for us, so take heart darkened child of God.

Another good work God is doing in us when we walk in darkness is developing a faith that goes beyond just what God does for us, but for who He is. What sustains us in those difficult times is the covenant God who never changes.  He is the One Constant.  This was what stabilized David in dark times and deepened his love for God. Pay attention to the long list of who God was to David and is to us.  Meditate on them and the dark clouds will lift – I love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold (Psalm 18:1-2).

A child of God walking in darkness.  That will be us at various times in our journey to heaven.  Don’t despair.  It is God’s good and mysterious work to teach us faith in His Name and Person.

PRAYER: “Father, please help me to trust You when everything appears dark and confusing.”

QUOTE: “Sometimes the Lord’s will includes periods of darkness but behind those clouds is His light.”

In the affection of Christ Jesus,

Pastor Jim