Dark Days

By Michael Pemberton

 “But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many.”   -Ecclesiastes 11:8

 Please excuse the format of this edition.  It differs from my usual because I feel that the issue on my heart requires a more direct approach.

 Scripture often admonishes us to think on good things.  Matters that are fair, just, of good report, etc. should occupy our minds if our hearts are to be of a peaceful disposition.  For a good many of our number the lack of this discipline (diligence) leaves us on the verge, if not in the very pit of depression.  We pray that God would change our circumstance when he, as our great physician, has prescribed a remedy that cures the ill without the side effects of his intervention.  The fact that he who loves us more than we can comprehend has seen fit to prescribe this medicine means two things.  It means that the remedy works and it means that it works better than anything else.  Take as often as needed.

 All that being said, our heavenly father here admonishes us to remember the dark days of our life.  His reason for this is stated in condensed form at the end of the verse.  "For they shall be many."  If we did not believe the goodness of the Lord we might be tempted to think the admonition a curse, or at the very least, a warning or threat.   Rest assured with me today that it is not.  Neither does this verse contradict the rest of scripture.  God has our very best in his heart and plans.  And be certain of this, all things work according to his plan, and that means for our good. 

 Now, I know that there is a very pernicious poison in many churches and in the media that teaches that if we only had faith, there would be no dark days.  Without apology, God disagrees.  One of the fastest ways to disappointment and depression is to deny reality in the name of faith.  Dark days are dark.  You will have them.  Many of them.  God has promised it.  Believe it or not, this is meant to be an encouragement!

 You will see many dark days for a very good assortment of reasons; the first of which is your usefulness in the Kingdom of God.  Consider how much of an encouragement it is when you read the promise that Christ can comfort you, being touched by your feelings of weakness because he suffered similar things.  See the principle?  We suffer that we may comfort those who suffer.  Even more, we suffer with comfort that we may pity those who suffer without it and bring to them the comfort of the gospel.  This one point alone should be enough to make us rejoice in our tribulations.

 You will have many dark days because the God who is light unapproachable often clothes himself in thick darkness when he draws close to you (Psalms 18:6-13).  Some of my times of sweetest communion with God have been when I walked through trying days.  Some of the sweetest saints you will meet come out of deep affliction.  Somehow, you can sense their closeness to God.  It is as though they belong to some "inner circle" of privileged few who are permitted into the confidence of the king.  And in one sense, they are.   But the privilege here is to suffer with him, and he desires to have you in that circle as well.  You may stay out if you wish by refusing to enter into "The fellowship of his sufferings."   If memory serves me, it was D.L. Moody who once told a complaining preacher, "Brother, don't waste your affliction."  Lean hard on the Lord in the darkness and let his cloaked, invisible presence strengthen your heart. "When darkness veils his lovely face, I rest on his unchanging grace."

 Then too, there are some things God wants to see in your life that can only come to you by way of darkness.  The time of Christ's first advent is called a time of "dimness" and "darkness" (Isaiah 9:1,2).  Some rare and precious flowers only bloom at night.  Some works can best be performed in the dark.  While men slept God sent the sign of dew to Gideon.   While the enemy slept Gideon overcame their vastly more powerful army with a few pitchers and candles.  In the middle of the night Joseph received a message that strengthened him for the trials that lay ahead and the saving of his house.  While standing guard under the stars David came to understand the awesome handiwork of God and bolstered his faith for the role he would play as king.   It was in the silence of night that God first called out to Samuel.  Under cover of darkness God parted the Red Sea for Israel to pass over dry shod.  And the list could go on.  The point is that darkness only prevents us from working, not God!  Sometimes the only way God can get you to relax your grip enough for him to work is to put you into the darkness.  In the words of my dad (and probably yours), "Would you please stop squirming and get some rest?"

 This list of reasons is not complete, but space dictates that I leave it here.  Consider briefly the following verses and I trust the Lord will give you wisdom.

• Psalms 88:14-18.  Sometimes we are in darkness because God is dealing with someone we are close to.
• Psalms 97:12.  Sometimes dark days result from God’s judgement of our sin.
• Matthew 10:27.  Some of the deepest revelation of God comes in times of darkness.
• Psalms 104:20-23.  God sends us dark times that we may rest from our labors.

 You may wonder, “how do I handle the dark trials of my life?  How do I make it through them without becoming bitter, which is worse than death?”  I am no expert, but I believe we have a few examples from the scriptures.  Job complained bitterly to God, but did not accuse him falsely.  Paul and Silas sang songs.  Jesus prayed.  David cried.  Jacob wrestled with the Lord.

 Perhaps that's not the answer you expected.  But when you lose the baby, or your spouse dies, or the pink slip comes across your desk, or your ministry crumbles before your eyes, you will not likely be spouting platitudes of doctrine.  You most likely will cry out in your pain.  Do so.  But remember this, an unbelievable power can be yours if you will resign yourself to the will of God and trust him in spite of all you see and feel.  He will not waste the day simply because it is dark to you.

 “If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.  If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.  Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.”  -Psalms 139:9-12