Have you noticed how much we say God is good only during the good times? In my spiritual journey it seems very easy to talk about how God blesses me when money is good and no major health issues are plaguing me or my loved ones. In the times of trouble and disparity I find it much more difficult or somewhat mechanical. When I am broke or feel alone, did the blessings of a good God stop? Did I forget He is still good? Perspective is the key. The Bible allows for the best perspective because it is not derived by human comparison. The characters of the Bible, excluding Christ, were all fallible. They were all in dark places at some or most of their lives. Some of them were there based upon their own doing and some by the hand of God like Daniel.
Several immediately come to mind, but only two today particularly press upon me. These two are on my heart right now. First is Jesus. He was led to a dark place. Yes, led there. In Luke 4.1-13 we find the reading of the temptation of Christ. Who put Him there? Luke 4.1-2 says, “And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, Being forty days tempted of the devil…” He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted. The parallel passages in Matthew and Mark reveal more leveled truth to this being a led event. Matthew 4.1 states, “Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.” Looks the same, but the next parallel in Mark 1.12 uses a unique term, “And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness.” The Spirit drove Him. Drive here means to charge; to send; to go forth. Jesus was led into a dark place, in a weakened state by the Holy Spirit. God led Him there.
A careful journey through Psalm 23 reveals that King David was also led to dark places by God. Verses 1-3 begins with what we all have been groomed to say and truly want to see… God blessing us! “1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” Anyone can say after reading these three verses… God is good!
Then there is a change in the mode of the Psalm. First it begins with: “Yea, though” meaning, even though. This will become important in just a minute. Verse four goes on to say: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;…” Do you fear evil when in a good place and a good time? Usually not. As a matter of fact, I seem to only have threats of this magnitude in a dark time or dark place in life. Then this Psalm goes on to say, “…Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. This shows provision during the dark place and dark time. Interesting to note, no one needs comfort when in a good place at a good time. Verse five then states further, “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:…” He does this while the enemy is there. “…Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.” In the Bible anointing can be associated with blessing and appointment; again in front or in presence of the enemy in a dark time and place (valley of shadow of death). Six raps it up with, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:..” In all circumstances at all times and in all places! “…And I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.” This is the only time when trouble stops.
Haven’t you always heard things like: if it works smoothly then it must be God. Or maybe you are more familiar with, this trouble I’m in must be the work of the devil. That is not how God works at all! The Bible is full of people persecuted, or even killed for following God. Here below is a sampling of such.
Steven: Acts 7.54-60
Peter and Apostles: Acts 5.40-41
Paul and Silas: Acts 16.22-25
Church at Ephesus: Ephesians 5.20
Within the coming weeks, if the Lord would allow me, I plan to highlight each of their responses for an example to us and for our pondering. I feel we are about to face a war that will roll over churches. I say churches because that is where the war is. Churches today are so used to the positive approach to ministry that their ability to allow the Lord’s leading into a dark place will not only be balked at, it will be forced upon them unwillingly, breaking them.
The question for today is simple: Are we allowing the Spirit to lead us, even into the dark places?