When Things Look Dark

I snapped this picture from my driveway one evening when a storm blew in, and caught a ray of sunlight piercing through some pretty intense clouds directly above my house. Over the past six months, God has used this picture to remind me that He is always at work when things look dark.

Sometimes situations blow in and out of our lives like an intense summer thunderstorm; the winds pick up, lightning flashes, and before we know it we’re caught in the deluge.

But sometimes storms last a long time, testing our faith and making our hope waver. When it feels like our stormy circumstance won’t end and the winds of pain will never die down, we need to remember God is at work even when things look dark.

In spite of how things appear, when we pray and invite Him into the situation, His magnificent light pierces through the clouds of our circumstances—and that is incredibly comforting to me.

This is the hope we have—that the light and truth and power of God Almighty can penetrate our bleakest circumstance to bring His radiant presence, His hope, and transformation. That no matter how dark things get, His light makes all the difference, and it will shine all the brighter because of the darkness.

God is inviting us to a whole new level of trust—to believe that He really is capable of piercing through our situations to pour out His power, His wisdom, His grace, and His unfailing love into our circumstances and into our hearts.

No matter how bad the storm becomes, when we pray, we can know—really know—that God is at work in our lives. He is our hope and our defense and our stronghold. He loves us with an everlasting love. And He is at work in our lives. Always. Forever.

For from of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, nor has the eye seen a God besides You, Who works and shows Himself active on behalf of him who earnestly waits for Him. (Isaiah 64:4)

Father,

Help me to perceive You at work in my situation. When it feels like the storms will sweep me away, be my Anchor, steady and strong. When it feels like the winds of pain will never die down, help me to believe You are at work in my life. Please strengthen me and enable me to see through eyes of ever-increasing faith. Thank you for establishing Your will and plan and purpose in my life. In the strong name of Jesus, Amen.

Through my books I love to help readers know God, know Scripture, and know how to pray. Click on the images below to learn more about each book.