The Dark Moments of Our Life Part One

 We have entered a new year.  2021.  2020 was rough on many of us due to the circumstances faced by not just us but by the world.  Look at it though.  Can that not be said about many years?  Life has it’s times of adversity.  Is it because God does not love us?  Absolutely not!  Adversity comes because of the reality of sin in the world, but adversity also exists to make us into the people God wants us to be.  He wants us to truly have an abundant life in Him and sometimes the only way for that to happen is for us to experience adversity.

Let’s be honest.  Many of us are very hard headed.  I know the author of this devotional is one of the most stubborn fellas you will ever meet.  I know in my life that it has definitely taken an act of God to change my mind and put me on the right path.  Many times, God has had to allow me to go through very trying times just to realize that I need to depend on Him.  Over the next three days, let’s talk about this.  Let’s not ignore this issue.  Everyone seems to have high hopes for 2021, but let’s be honest, and say, that yes, adversity is going to come.  So, how should we look at it, handle it, and learn from it.

1 Peter 1:1-12

 1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ:

Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

10 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, 11 searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.

Sometimes it can seem as if the trials in life will never really end.  We’re either beginning a season of difficulties, in the middle of one, or just ending one.  Whether the trial is relational, financial, physical, or spiritual, it can be draining and discouraging.  What’s more, the problems don’t happen in a vacuum.  There are always new emergencies and troubles to deal with that make life even more difficult!

Yet the Bible says that God is always good.  As He Himself said to His people, “The Lord is merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin” (Exodus 34:6-7).  Of course, this may be a difficult truth to accept when you’re going through a trial, but it’s one to cling to if you want to make it through.  It’s also helpful to remember that the dark moments of your life will only last as long as is necessary for God to accomplish His purpose in us.

The disadvantage we face is we have a limited perspective on our dark moments.  We can see how we are being affected in the moment...but that’s about it.  What we can’t see is the bigger picture of what God is accomplishing during those dark times- until He reveals to us.  In the meantime, we will have to trust that God wants only what is best for us.

If we want God’s best for our life and desire to be used by Him, at some point we will have to travel the road of adversity.  This means God can and will use adversity in our life for a good purpose.  God will use adversity, regardless of its source, to help us take great leaps forward in spiritual growth- and He will allow that adversity to remain in our life until He accomplishes His purpose in us.  He will not keep it in our life one minute longer than necessary.  

Look at the life of any hero of the Christian faith, and you will see that the person went through a season of adversity- and oftentimes, more than one.  Abraham and Sarah remained childless until they were well into their nineties.  Moses spent forty long years in the wilderness before God called him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.  David hid in caves to avoid the wrath of King Saul.  Daniel was tossed into a lions’ den.  Peter had to live with the guilt of having denied that he was a follower of Jesus.

When a trail does come our way, we can know that God will be with us in the midst of it.  We can choose not to be discouraged but to “glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance, and perseverance, character, and character, hope” (Romans 5:3-4).  And we can be absolutely certain that God is going to see us through the heartache and bring us out whole, joyful, and more mature on the other side.