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"I sought the LORD, and He heard me,
And delivered me from all my fears."
(Psalm 34:4)
We all experience dark times. No one is immune from these unwanted seasons. These times are called by many names: trials, tribulations, hardships, etc. Dr. Charles Stanley referred to these hard seasons as dark moments. In his "30 Life Principles" sermon series, Stanley teaches on how God uses these times to prepare us for greater usage in His kingdom's work. This week, I will share with you both from Stanley's teachings as well as my own thoughts on this topic of getting through the dark times in our lives.
The Bible is replete with examples of God's people walking through various trials. The best-known example is the life of Job. He lost everything of value to him except his relationship with the LORD. He not only survived the worst Satan threw at him, but he also thrived and came out of that season stronger in the LORD and blessed.
Perhaps you are currently walking amid a fiery trial. You do not know how long this will last. You are maybe weary, even depressed. I have been there as well. In fact, everyone who has ever lived has walked this same path of hardship at some point in life. The circumstances are different to each person, but it is part of living in a fallen world. There are many long nights of the soul traversing through the valleys of life. We can pick one of two ways to deal with these unwanted intruders: we can either become bitter and lose our focus, or we can turn to God and ask Him to help us get through it. Again, all of us will walk this path; it is hard and at times confusing, but we all must walk it. But praise God that followers of Jesus do not have to walk it alone.
I have watched a friend of mine recently experience one trial after another. He and his family have had difficulties in their lives: health, finances, parents, jobs, and well, it has been a lot. I asked him if he was familiar with Job. After all he has gone through, on this particular day, he was battling kidney stones and his family's air conditioning had gone out. It is hot in Texas, let me say! But I have watched him, and he and his wife are not just surviving; they are thriving. Is it hard? Absolutely! Do they want this season of dark moments to end? It cannot end soon enough for them. I am sure some of you reading this devotion can relate.
Dr. Stanley shares so many great truths in his message on dark moments. He said if you want your life to count, you will travel the road of adversity. Those dark moments include times when we are tired and tempted, feel hurt, depressed, anxious, fearful, sinful, sorrowful, and in pain from loss. These are dark moments. We are going to have them, but the key question is, how will we respond to them? Some of you are traveling a hard path, and you have for quite some time. When will it end? Why is God allowing it? These are questions we all ask. One of Stanley's many powerful quotes in this teaching on this subject is this following. I will close with it, let you ponder on it, and we will pick up tomorrow discussing how we can get through hard times. Stanley said, "The dark moments of our lives last only as long as is necessary for God to accomplish His purpose in us."
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