​Treasures of Darkness

Isaiah 45:2, 3 I will go before you and will level the mountains, I will break down the gates of bronze and cut through the bars of iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, Who summons you by name.

Ps 112:4 Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man.
Isaiah 42:16 I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them. I will turn darkness into light before them and make rough places smooth. These are the things I will do, I will not forsake them.

For many years, I did not understand what the Lord could mean by the “treasures of darkness”. Then I spent time in the ‘darkness’ when I could not see my way ahead. There were days when I wondered why the Lord would allow so much pain and confusion in my life. I thought when I became a Christian, that my way would always be clear and understandable. I thought the Lord would always show me huge road signs letting me know which direction I was to go.
I sat under spiritual leadership at that time that said if you have faith, nothing bad would happen. I was too young in the faith to understand that that is not taught in the Word. The Word teaches us that in this world we will have tribulation but that the Lord has overcome the world.
We will have difficult days when it seems there is a huge black cloud between us and the Lord. We will have days when we are feeling like the blind leading the blind, when the unfamiliar paths that we tread are rough and crooked. Those paths will feel like the valley of the shadow of death.  But we serve a God of great compassion. He walks those paths with us. He has promised to be in the purifying fires with us. He will be the Rock we can stand on in the roaring rivers of tribulation. He will be the stream of living water when we are in the desert times. 

What I have learned in my dark times is that the Lord is always with me. He will never leave me alone in the darkness. He will shine a light of love into the darkness even when I am too blinded by focusing on myself and not Him. He will show me patience and compassion until I am able to see beyond the circumstances and focus on Him once again.

My treasures of darkness have been the solid knowledge that I can trust the Lord even when I don’t understand His ways or plans. I can count on Him even when all my prayers feel like they are bouncing off the ceiling. I can stand on His promises even when I hurt or am confused about where to turn next. 
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But my greatest treasure is the developing of my faith in a God who is steadfast and unchanging. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. I know that I will always have access to the throne room of the Creator of the Universe. I know beyond a shadow of doubt that I will be welcomed with great joy into the presence of the Most High God. I know that I can share my fears, triumphs over the enemy and my joys with Him. I know that I am treasured and loved.

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