Text: Psalm 105:17-21
Memory text:
““Who among you fears the Lord? Who obeys the voice of His Servant? Who walks in darkness And has no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord And rely upon his God.”
Isaiah 50:10 NKJV
The dark time is a time of waiting, of delay, of silence, of challenge, or of confusion. It’s a time of grief, loneliness, illness, trials, failure, or tragedy when God may seem distant and silent. It’s a time of temptation, as the devil comes with enough reasons to fear and doubt.
Abram waited in faith for 25 years to have Isaac, except at the time when Sarai, his wife, lost her patience and encouraged him to have a son through her maid. Though she regretted it but the evil consequence of her action, the Ishmaelites, is among us till today (Gen 16:1-6, 16).
After Joseph had his dream of greatness, he went through dark times of rejection, slavery, and imprisonment to see his dream fulfilled. He went from the pit to Potiphar’s house and to the prison before entering the palace. It was a 13-year waiting (Gen 37:2; 41:46).
Joshua and Caleb waited for 40 years in the wilderness to enter the promised land as a result of the unbelief of their generation (Jos 14:10; Num 14:30). They held firmly to God’s promise throughout.
What about David? From about 15 years, when he was anointed as king over Israel and after his defeat of Goliath, his trouble began, and he was not crowned until he was thirty years old. For about 15 years, he was pursued by Saul, always on the run and forced into exile. Throughout this period, he overcame the temptation of killing Saul and of helping himself to the throne, even when he had the opportunity! (1 Sam 26:12)
The time of delay may be short like in the case of Saul who couldn’t wait for Samuel or like Jarius who waited for Jesus even when his daughter was in danger and Jesus seemed not to be in hurry!
Whether short or long, don’t doubt God because you can’t understand or see what He is doing at that moment. Like Raymond Edman said, “Never doubt in the dark what God told you in the light.” Fear sets in during the delay period between the promise given and the promise fulfilled (Prov 13:12). If He said it, He will do it. The truth, however, is that truth itself won’t change from being the truth because it is hidden from your sight. God will never change, and His truth won’t. Let this truth guide you through the dark night. Don’t doubt His word because you can’t see or feel it. Like a proverb says, “Fear knocked at the door. Faith answered. And lo, no one was there”. Always silence fear with faith. Hallelujah!
Prayer points
1. Father, please, keep Your word alive in me and don’t let me give in to fear during my dark times, in Jesus’ name.
2. Father, uphold my hand and let me never doubt in the dark what You told me in the light in Jesus’ name.
Today’s declarations
1. I will always remember that God’s promise doesn’t change even when it is shielded by darkness.
2. I will not allow delay to make me weary or fear. Rather, I will silence every knock of fear on my door with faith.
Contact: pastor@thf.org.ng