Treasures in Darkness

Before Benjamin was ever conceived, a spiritual mentor in our lives told us she felt like God had showed her that when we had our first child there would be a struggle of some sort, but the Lord would bring a testimony through it all. She didn’t have a clear sense of what this would mean, and neither did we! I’m so thankful that God doesn’t show us everything all at once. Our idea of a struggle looked like a bump in the road compared to the mountains we came up against. If we had known ahead of time all that we would face upon Benjamin’s birth I would have had a hard time believing we could make it through. I believe the Holy Spirit will reveal to us different things about the future as we ask Him and wait on Him, but His desire is that we would always depend on Him in the present and trust Him with the future.

When our struggles met us there was fear and there was shaking, but we never fell. Jesus was so faithful to sustain us and walk us through. We have personally experienced more of the truth of the Word of God:

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. -2 Corinthians 12:9(NIV)

I can do all this through him who gives me strength. –Philippians 4:13(NIV)

The amazing thing is that, not only have we made it through, we have come out on the other side with a deeper trust in and love for Jesus than ever before. He has planted things deep inside of us that can never be taken away!

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. –Romans 8:28(NIV)

I believe there are some treasures that can only be mined in darkness. However, we have to be willing to look for them and open to receive them. We can simply grit our teeth and try to make it through (sometimes getting stuck along the way), or we can keep moving forward and come out with something beautiful and valuable, made possible only by the grace of God. I believe this is the dividing line between tragedy and triumph!

And I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness—secret riches. I will do this so you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, the one who calls you by name. –Isaiah 45:3(NLT)