Has a recent season of life seemed more difficult for you than usual? Perhaps you have had more setbacks than you have seen in a while? Would you call it a dark time?
Dark times are a part of life—when tests and trials seem more intense than ever before, sometimes involving traumatic situations like illness, the death of a loved one, or especially trying circumstances. This quote from a veteran (taken from the brochure of a ministry helping them with trauma) says it all: “We cannot talk to the average civilian about what we have seen and are experiencing. We have been subject to the darkest dark.”
Thankfully, during those darkest times of our lives, Jesus promises to be right there with us. In fact, our Savior does some of His best work in us while it is still dark.
Tears at the Tomb
Dick’s comments: On Resurrection Sunday, while listening to a sermon drawn from John 20, I heard a phrase that changed my life. It appeared in verse 1: “Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark….”
Although the pastor continued with his sermon, my mind remained captivated by that phrase: “while it was still dark.” Mary Magdalene’s world couldn’t have been darker. She had watched helplessly as the most perfect Man she had ever known—her precious Teacher, Leader, and Friend—had suffered and died on the cross. She had seen Him placed in a tomb—with a boulder blocking its entrance. It was the worst tragedy she had ever faced. That day, it was still very dark for Mary as she came, weeping, to the tomb.
One ironic thought kept reverberating in my mind: in the midst of complete darkness for Mary, the Light of the World was alive and well, standing right behind her (v. 14). Maybe you have faced a dark time like that, either in the past or recently. Perhaps a tragedy has occurred in your life, and hope is nowhere to be found. Right in the thick of that darkness, Jesus is beside you, ready to bring you His light—while it is still dark.
Why Are We Weeping?
Philip’s comments: The passage that comes to my mind as we talk about facing difficult life challenges is 1 Thessalonians 4:13 (NIV). The last part of that passage tells us that even in the face of death, we “do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.” Our ultimate hope is in the Light of the World, even while it is still dark.
It is interesting that the angels at the tomb, and then Jesus Himself, all asked Mary Magdalene the same question: “Woman, why are you weeping?” Mary could have provided a long list of reasons for her tears, all of them related to the death of her beloved Teacher and Friend. However, their question wasn’t exactly a request for an answer from her. Actually, they were about to reveal a secret Mary did not yet know.
They were helping her to know (and us as well) that in the midst of our tears, hope is on the way. Jesus is alive, and He is about to unveil His light—while it’s still dark.
The Comfort We Need
Philip and Dick together: Please know for certain that we take very seriously the agony you may have experienced regarding your situation. Yes, it is true that Jesus is our hope in the dark days. Even so, hardship takes a toll on each of us when we experience it. At such times, we need the love and sympathy of friends who understand our grief.
In the John 20:11–18 account, one of the greatest treasures of Mary’s encounter with the Risen Savior is the tenderness Jesus displayed toward Mary as she grieved. It was so dark—and Mary’s tears so blurred her vision—that she mistook Jesus for the gardener. In the darkness, she didn’t recognize Him—until He tenderly spoke her name: “Mary!”
Can you hear the Lord calling you by name as He ministers His comfort to you?
The Lonely, Dark Hours
In a radio series called “The Sheepfold,” Derek Prince cites Psalm 23:4 in one of his daily messages. Through his comments on this very familiar passage, Derek confirms the promise we have been studying: the Lord is present with us—even while it’s still dark.
Psalm 23:4 says: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me” (NASB 1995). What does that verse mean? I believe it means we are guaranteed the personal presence of the Lord—even in the lonely, dark hours. Let me say to you, frankly, there are very few of us who will not pass, at some time or another, through those lonely, dark hours.
I do not believe the valley of the shadow of death is simply the moment we come to die physically. I could quote many Scriptures to show that it refers to any time of great darkness, oppression, and loneliness. There are such valleys in the life of almost every one of us.
Let’s be realistic. Life is NOT just a bed of roses. There’s a lot more to it than that. God does not promise us that we will not go through that valley. In fact, David assumes in a certain sense that he will go through the valley. But he says, “When I go through the valley, I’m going to count on Your presence. You will not leave me nor forsake me.” There are valleys in our experience that no one else can see us through—valleys of loneliness, bereavement, maybe times of sickness when we are in a coma. Nobody else can communicate; but the Lord is right there with us beside our bed.
Placing Ourselves in His Hands
No matter what trials we encounter, we can count on His presence, knowing He is there to help. As Derek says above, the Lord is with us, even while it’s still dark. Why don’t we take a moment together right now to ask Him for help with our situation?
Dear Lord Jesus, it has been a really tough season for me, and there have been some painful losses. I don’t understand why these things have happened, but I am not demanding answers to the “why” questions that have crowded into my mind.
Instead, I throw myself on Your mercy and place myself in Your capable hands. I turn all of it over to You—every one of the painful situations that have come to me. I trust You, Lord, for the peace, comfort, and confidence I need to go forward. In Your strength, I will move into the future, with my eyes fixed on You.
Thank You for Your promise to be with me, even in the dark times. I trust You, Lord Jesus, and I commit myself to You afresh. Amen.
A Matter of Trust
I remember a quote that was a favorite of my late mother-in-law, Alice Basham—“Father, I do not understand You, but I trust You.” It was from Mother Basilea Schlink of the Evangelical Sisters of Mary in Darmstadt, Germany. Essentially, that quote is what we have just prayed—our trust in the Lord, that He is with us while it’s still dark.
We hope you also know that all of us at DPM are standing with you in prayer and faith as you face the challenges that come in the dark times of life. In that regard, we want to offer “The Sheepfold,” the week of radio talks which included Derek’s quote.
Our offer for this free material is a sincere expression of our love and thanks to you. Just use the download link provided. We are so grateful for your prayers for DPM and for your wonderful financial support.
Drawing Close to the Lord
Dark times in the Christian life—loss, trauma, and setbacks—are some of the biggest challenges we face. How ought we to respond when these things happen?
A story from the life of David comes to mind. In 1 Samuel 30, David and his men returned home from a military campaign to discover that their camp had been raided, and their wives, their children, and all their possessions had been taken. A huge loss!
Verse 4 says that David and his men wept until they had no more strength to weep. Their pain was so profound that David’s men even considered stoning him. It was at that point that David “strengthened himself in the LORD his God” (v. 6). Then, David drew in very close to the Lord, asking Him what he should do next. “Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?” In our situation, we could surely ask the Lord similar questions.
Sometimes the losses we experience are irretrievable, and in such cases, we simply draw close to Jesus for His comfort and peace. In other cases, the Lord may direct us to take a step. We may hear Him say to us, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.” Acting upon that word, David recovered what had been lost.
Either way, our ultimate answer to the dark times we face comes from staying close to Jesus. Be sure of this: He is with us, and He will help us—even while it is still dark.
Sincerely in Christ,
Philip Wyns
President, DPM-USA
All the best,
Dick Leggatt
Executive Consultant/Senior Editor
