Lessons in the Dark
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“He [the jailer] then brought them [Paul and Silas] out and asked, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’” (Acts 16:30).
God slammed every door of my life shut tight. At first, I didn’t know where to turn. Nothing seemed familiar anymore. I couldn’t get my bearings. The room felt cold and dark. I have heard it said when God closes a door, He opens a window in the transition room. But no one ever told me those two acts were not simultaneous.
What do you do in a dark, lonely room? At first, I tried to get out. I felt for walls, banged on the door, jiggled the knob and got angry with God. I prefer to be in control and have a plan in place, thank you very much. But the more I struggled, the darker the room became and the less I could see what to do. I felt imprisoned. I was scared. When the window did crack and a smidgen of fresh air and light seeped in, I impulsively tried to force it open and make my escape. Futile attempt. I flunked that test. I had not yet learned to rely on God’s timing.
After I had depleted all my own resources, I plopped down on the hard, cold floor and blubbered for God to help me. I accepted that He was in control and all this had to be for a reason. I was right. God needed me to refocus and rely on Him before I could walk into the next room in my life.
Paul and Silas passed the lock-up test much better than I. When jailed, they didn’t panic or bang on the doors to get out. They sat in that cold, dark, smelly dungeon and sang. When the door did fling open and their shackles were loosed, did they dash out? No. Not only did Paul and Silas wait, they persuaded the other prisoners to wait as well. That is powerful faith.
I believe Paul heard God whisper, “I opened the door. I’ll tell you when to leave. Trust me.”
Because they waited, a jailer on the edge of belief was saved from a far worse prison, along with his household and untold numbers of others over the centuries who have read this story. They were saved from being eternally locked away from God’s mercy and grace.
By the way, I ‘m still in that transition room, though it is not quite so dark. It is certainly less lonely now that I realize God is here with me. I am not sure how long God wants me here, but if I can be obedient like Paul, He will find use for me here.
God has a purpose for each and every one of us at every stage of our lives. In the end, I believe He has prepared a room for me in Heaven. Until then, I plan to patiently stay in the one God has placed me and learn the lessons He wishes to teach me. I might even sing a bit.
Question: Do you feel trapped in a situation? Have you turned to God for help and direction? Do you think He is trying to teach you something?
TAKE THE NEXT STEP: Waiting for the sunrise
About the Author Julie Cosgrove
16 Responses to “Lessons in the Dark”
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Thanks Barb for your reply. My belief is somewhat in the middle. I guess I hold to God deals everyone different hands, and you have to do the best with what you are given. Some areas you must wait for God. But if I am meeting with a parent and have to make decisions right then and there, of course I pray and hope I am saying the right thing for that situation. But I have to act immediately. God made us and has given each and everyone a very capable mind to think for ourselves. The more I grow in my faith, the more I see, yes we need to act in a Godly manner, but many times we are left to think and fend for ourselves. God does guide us and many times give us far beyond what we need to act. I have been blessed so many times in ways I never expected. I think it is key also to be still before the Lord and listen to what he has to say. Of course, his voice comes in many disguises.
Thank you.
My dear Cathy,
Don’t try to separate it, that’s what makes it seem complicated. It’ all about intimacy with God, where we hear his very heartbeat & “live” all of our life close to His heart. It’s not like we be dependent over here, & then we run off over there on our own to use His abilities & talents. We need to have His direction & strength to even use our abilities & talents in the way & in the place & with the power that He wants us to. We need to wait in His Presence & listen for His Voice for clear direction in every step we take in life. Proverbs 3:5-6 sums it up the best “Trust in the Lord with all your heart & lean not on your own understanding(The Amplified says ‘Don’t go by what you think you know’. In all your ways acknowledge Him & He will direct your paths”.Try reading those verses with the emphasis on a different word every time, it is a loaded verse! God is saying so much there!
Just an obversation – It seems to me that an action person who wants everything yesterday (& wants to be in control) does struggle more with this (my own niece is an example of this to me), which makes me think that maybe, in God’ perfect love for you, He works in certain ways with you (& her, & many like the both of you), because He loves you just the way you are, but too much to leave you that way. He’s teaching you that HE is the One in control, not you, and you CAN trust HIM with everthing – ABSOLUTELY !!! God loves you SO much, Cathy!!!
This makes some sense and gives me hope. I will try to sing in the dark,,,,,hard as it may be.
Hello webmaster: I wonder if there is a way to read comments posted before I post mine. It seems I am unable to read other reader’s responses until after I post mine.
Very good imagery Julie. Since I am a visual learner I get it. I feel like I am in a dark room with no way out in some of my own personal situations. It is hard to wait for God’s timing as I am an action oriented person who likes to see solutions and results to problems quickly. I know that God has everything under control, but my human brain sometimes doesn’t see it or I think God doesn’t work fast enough. Sometimes I can convince myself that God doesn’t operate in all areas of our lives, but we must act and think for ourselves. It is a complicated thing to be God dependent but also use the abilities and talents God gave us to help ourselves and family.
I find that a complicated area of my spirituality.
You made me chuckle several times while reading your beautifully written account of life-in-transition with our King Jesus! For me, intercession and taking faith-establishing steps toward His promises have been the keys to finding joy and eager anticipation of (His) future…while I’m waiting. It’s waiting-in-action that reminds us that our Hope is real. Thanks for the article.
This was very comforting to read today. I felt God was speaking to me through it. I am in the midst of many major changes and unknowns. All the solutions and answers also have questions attached to them, confusion and doubt visit more often than they have in a long time. So after reading this, I will trust my God in the darkness because darkness is light to Him! He knows what the plan is and His timing is perfect. Besides experience has shown me that He ALWAYS takes me to a better place. So I will tend to the business He has placed in front of me today until I get an e-mail with further directions. LOL
Please delete one of these. I am receiving two copies each day.
Thanks I do enjoy your page but only need one copy.
Lela
Lovely, my prayer is that I will continually wait upon my Lord and be anixious for nothing, trusting and listening for His leading and learning the lessons He has for me until He welcomes me home.
Julie, I could literally smell the air & see the light when you wrote: “When the window did crack and a smidgen of fresh air and light seeped in, I impulsively tried to force it open and make my escape. Futile attempt.” Thank you for another thought provoking devotional. I’m w/ you in transitioning, and I hope to “sing a bit” in His glory, His grace & His mercy IN THAT DAY when Jesus returns… Thanks so much, Lori
I to am in a transition room with my job, not sure why God brought me to this position, it is not something I want to do forever, but none the less I am here and this made me realize that I am here for a reason and to patiently wait for God to lead me on. Same goes for my fianances. So I patiently wait, with the Lord by my side, to get our of this dark room and back into the light. Thanks for sharing.
I don’t feel like I’m in a dark lonely room; but more of a state of suspension….kind of like a pergatory (sp?). I’m waiting to hear from God and I feel like I’m the only person on earth that can’t “hear” him. I constantly question myself and my relationship with Him; I don’t enjoy that feeling.
I just started a study on experiencing God and pray that it helps.
Dear Wanda, We are to plan BUT then we are to submit such to His path, His timing, His way of making such come to be.
Dear Julie, Thank you for this devotional today…the honesty in it is encoutaging and uplifting to my own circumstances…the waiting room is hard But I am glad that I have been freed from the horrible “jail house” I once was locked in…now i am in a transitional place that has been scary but so long has I don’t murmur and comlpain and seek His will in the process I am certain that He is faithful to bring me to the next place in life…most likely He desires to have me let go of something that is not fitting for the new things He will be doing in and through me…What an awsome God we serve,,,He loves us when we are down, He loves us when we are lost, He loves us while He is transforming us from drakness into His glorious light. He brings us from Glory to Glory so that at the end of our limited life span down here we will share in His glory forever and ever more..Julie I am glad that God has you in a holding place right now for you have been given the time to write these wonderful devotionals that are making a differance in many lives…
Amazing that this is today’s devotional and it so speaks to where I am right now. I am a planner, and life is not going according to that plan. This message is definitely what I needed today.