A DARK TIME
Recently someone asked, “Have you ever been through a dark time?” Like me, you probably just thought, “Yes.” Perhaps that’s where you are right now. Maybe you are in the middle of a long, dark trial even now. You’re probably asking the same questions that I asked: “When will it be over?” or “How long will it last?” or “How do I get through it?” Unfortunately, the Bible doesn’t tell us how long the trial will last. However, it does tell us two things that give us hope: how to get through the trial and that our trial has a purpose.
HOW DO WE GET THROUGH A DARK TIME?
If we are going to successfully work through a difficult trial, we need to grow in hope, we need to gain spiritual strength, and we need to build endurance. There are several things we can do to accomplish these. However, I want us to focus on just two: repositioning our focus and aligning with the right partner.
The first step to growing in hope, gaining strength, and building endurance is to reposition our focus. Our natural tendency is to look at all of the facts, then to focus on the negative details. Whether it is a bad report from the doctor, a thin bank account, a rocky marriage, or rebellious children (you get my point), our focus seems to go to the negative rather than the positive. If, however, we want to overcome and see brighter days, we have to reposition our focus by taking our eyes off of the situations and circumstances and, like the old song says, turn our eyes on Jesus. Our focus must be on Him. That sounds cliché and certainly it is easier said than done, but we should stop and remember – we choose what we feed our souls, and what we feed our souls determines how we feel. If we are only dwelling on negative, pessimistic information, we will sink deeper and deeper into the darkness. On the other hand, if we focus on the truth that Jesus does love us and He does have our best interest at heart, then we will begin to believe better days are ahead.
So, how do we focus on Jesus? For me, the first thought that comes to mind is Paul’s words in 2ndCorinthians 5:7, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” If we live by sight we will see and dwell on all of the problems. If, however, we live by faith, we acknowledge that there are problems, but we lift our eyes above the problems to the truth that Jesus is still in charge of our lives.
David in Psalm 23:4 said that even though he walked through the valley of the shadow of death he wouldn’t fear. The key word is “shadow;” There can only be a shadow if there is light – David chose to focus on that light. We, too, if we will focus on the light of Jesus, will be able to walk through life’s valley – even that dark valley of death.
The writer of Hebrews says, in chapter 12 verses 1 and 2, if we are to keep from losing heart and growing weary, we must fix our eyes on Jesus. It is a continual admonition – take your eyes off of the circumstances and put them on God. This doesn’t mean we deny we have problems, it just means we know we serve a God who is greater than our problems.
One more word about repositioning our eyes: Jesus says in Matthew 6:22 (NLT), “Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light.” Read that again, “When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light.” In other words, when our focus is on Jesus, our lives fill up with hope.
The second step to growing in hope, gaining strength, and building endurance through dark days is to partner with someone that will hold us accountable. We need accountability because, when going through dark times, our thought processes get a little cloudy. Face it, when going through a dark time, we need someone who can see clearly in order to open our eyes to what we ourselves are not able to see. Perhaps the worst part about dark times is the truth that we know we need help, yet we still do not want help and, often times, refuse to accept it. Nevertheless, if we are going to successfully navigate through difficult days, we need to surround ourselves with people who will help keep us straight when we begin to lose our way.
Choose carefully a person who will be confidential and uplifting. There are a lot of people who would love to talk negative and feed your sorrows, but no one needs that any point in time, much less when you’re in the midst of a dark time. What you really need is someone to whom you can confess your faults, knowing they will both keep your confidence and hold you accountable, as well as pray for you (James 5:16).
Finally, when your dark days are over, use your knowledge and wisdom to help direct another person through their difficult days. You have been given a gift – use it to bless others. Paul wrote that we are called to encourage and build people up (1stThessalonians 5:11). Hebrews 10:24 (NLT) says, “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.”
If you want to grow in hope, gain strength, and build endurance, fix your focus on Jesus and find a friend that will help you keep your eyes locked on Jesus.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF MY TRIAL?
One final word on dark days: we don’t like them, yet they are for our good. God doesn’t always cause our trials, yet He uses them to mold us and shape us into better people, better servants, better Christians. James put it like this: “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing” (James 1:2-4 NLT). Wow! Those are great words filled with promise! We must hold to and believe them.
To believe our dark days have purpose may require an attitude adjustment. For example, some people during their difficult trials begin to feel as though God doesn’t love them or that He has forgotten about them. Worse, some begin to blame God for all that is wrong with their lives. He hasn’t forgotten about you! He still loves you! He may or may not be the cause of your troubles, but, either way, He is with you in your darkest days. Regardless of what caused your dark days, God will use them for your good. He will not always take us out of the trial, but He does promise to walk with us through the trial.
If we can focus on Jesus, partner with the people who will help us walk straight and remember that even the dark days have purpose, then we will grow in hope, gain strength and build endurance to get through the dark days and into the brighter ones.