When I Walk in the Dark ShadowsSample

Many people follow Jesus for the "bread" that He gives but He wants us to follow Him for who He is. Remarkably, these times of darkness will reveal the motivation of our hearts in following Jesus. Are we just following Him for the "bread" that He gives us? We may feel that God is angry with us during times of darkness. We may feel God tolerates us but there is no way that He loves us. Sometimes, it can seem like He takes everything away from us. God uses all these feelings and emotions to show us who and what we are without Christ and his grace.

What is our typical response during these times? Some people keep looking at the darkness, temptations, fierce attacks, poverty, distress, pain, and the imperfections in themselves. Others begin to look to God. They see the hand of God holding them as opposed to the shadows of His hand. During these times we must understand that even if God feels far away, we are making spiritual progress. What should I do when God closes me in the shadow of his hand? Do not light your own fires (Isa.50:10). Sit quietly in the darkness. Do not be terrified (Ps.37:6-7). Wait. God can see in the darkness. How long should you wait? Until God comes. How long would that be? Until He finishes His work (Ps.130:5-6).

Sometimes He makes us wait until we are sure that he won't come. He always comes. Prepare your heart for his coming. He will come when your heart is ready to receive him. The only thing that you can do when you sit in God's darkness is to wait and listen. God has His own schedule. No amount of self-pity, shouting, worrying, or talking to people will change that.

Do not allow fear into the darkness of loneliness, pain, rejection, shame, humiliation, sadness, persecution, or misunderstanding. Embrace it. See it as a gift from God that He is using to teach you how temporary life is, how weak you are, how important eternity is, and how you should judge everything in the light of eternity.