A Time of Darkness
It was like I could feel my heart break into two
Reference: It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, (Luke 23:44 NIV)
Explore: When we first discovered that our teenage foster daughter had fallen pregnant to her ex-boyfriend my life plummeted into turmoil. It was like I could feel my heart break into two and all I could pray to God was, “Why?”
I tried to pull myself together to put some practical plans into place, but the whole time it was like a black cloud was hanging over me. Everywhere I looked, all I could see was darkness.
Thankfully, I have a very faith-filled family and some incredibly faithful friends. They really upheld me in prayer and exactly 1 week after I had heard the news, I felt the cloud lift.
It was at this time that I felt God had carried me through and would give me everything I needed for the future.
Application: In Luke’s gospel, just before Jesus had breathed His last, it speaks of a darkness covering the whole land. What a dark time in our history this was, and it was like the elements were responding to such tragedy.
There are times, as I’ve already expressed, where we feel we are experiencing a tragedy too. God is not absent in this darkness.
Did you notice that the darkness did not come when Jesus left, but Jesus was there throughout the whole time. He commits to do the same for us when we go through hard times too.
He understands deep pain, rejection, disappointment, despair, and He still sticks around.
Whenever you go through your darkness, don’t forget to look up to Christ who is hanging there with you.
Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your presence with me through the pain and grief. May I never take my eyes off You. Amen.
When have you endured a time of darkness?
This article was written by Linda Bailey
Linda started theological studies in 1999 in Australia. After working for ten years in various church ministries, she now works as the breakfast producer at 89.9 LightFM - the Christian radio station in Melbourne, Australia. She writes blogs every day about passages she is currently reading in the Bible. Follow her on Google Plus +Linda Bailey or Facebook by clicking the like button on the right of this page.