"I will give you the treasures of darkness and riches from secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord." Isaiah 45:3
As we made our way through the darkened cave with only flashlights to guide our way, I could hear the voice of the park manager, (Dana's uncle, Danny) as he led us through on a tour of the beautiful Cathedral Caverns.
Dana and I had decided to take the boys on an adventure for the day and explore some of our local exhibits, knowing they would love the excitement of a darkened cave. What struck me as we entered on this very hot and balmy summer day was the extreme coolness as we got closer to the opening of this cave. We were welcomed in by the coolness even though the darkness loomed ahead.
Danny gave us all the rules of how we were to navigate on this tour as a small group gathered around. He led us on our way filling the air with stories of old days when the cave was founded and established. He had a way of explaining the formations in the cave making it easy to understand and interesting to hear (like the difference in stalactites and stalagmites.) As we marched on deeper underground I was carried away with the smells and sounds the further away we traveled from the entrance.
At one point Danny had us gather around, stand extremely still and turn our lights off. What a feeling to be in complete and total darkness. My other senses took on a whole new awareness. It was such a consuming feeling to be engulfed in pure blackness. No matter how much I tried to see shapes or forms or a crack of a light from anywhere there was none to be found in that moment. Not even the glistening crystals (stalactites) hanging down before us had a sparkle anymore. The light we held in our hand was of no use unless it had its power source. As each of us turned our flashlights back on the sparkle from the crystals glowed. I could see shadows when before there were none. I looked at my family's faces and the faces of others around me. The light takes on a whole new meaning when you've stood in the darkness for a while.
I have felt some of the darkness in our world this year. It's been a road that has led to uncertainties, illness, disease, accidents, loss and now an election that leaves us wondering the outcome.
You may be experiencing your own form of darkness. A prayer that continually goes unanswered, a relationship that needs restoring, job loss, or an injury that is paralyzing. We have hard days, weeks, months or even years. It's so hard to understand why we go through what we do, but I have to trust that in the darkness God is there showing us treasures when we are willing to listen. He meets us there every time to remind us that we are loved and that we matter to Him.
God is faithful, and even if He chooses not to restore what we have lost on this side of heaven, He will sustain us here on earth. He has a story to tell in us and through us, we only have to listen and sometimes we hear better when it is dark. If or when you go through a time of loss of any kind, lay it before Him. He knows and understands and He will heal and restore.
"The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all." (Ps. 34:7-8,19)
I love you & He loves you more!
Lord, Thank You for unanswered prayers, for I seem to focus more on You during those times. Help me to trust You more and know that You have my best interests at heart. May I embrace You in my darkness and cry out Your praises. May Your goodness encamp around those that need You and may they be able to see Your treasures during their darkest times. In Jesus' name. Amen.