TREASURES IN THE DARKNESS

I WILL GIVE YOU THE TREASURES OF DARKNESS AND HIDDEN RICHES OF SECRET PLACES, THAT YOU MAY KNOW THAT I, THE LORD, WHO CALL YOU BY YOUR NAME, AM THE GOD OF ISRAEL. ISAIAH 45:3

Troubles come in all shapes and sizes. Trouble can be as small as a run in your stocking or as big as an emergency trip to the hospital. The same flat tire that made you a few minutes late for the grand opening sale at the department store could also be the few minutes that kept you from harm on the highway. When troubles come, you have a choice-to let troubles destroy you or transform you. A diamond is just a piece of coal that has undergone pressure. When you are handed a lump of coal in the form of trouble, it's an opportunity to see how God can transform it into spiritual treasure. Ugly things can become jewels relecting the light of God; if you are willing to go into the darkness with Him and find the hidden treasure.

First, acknowledge that the trouble is real and needs to be faced. You can't ask God for help if you keep denying you have a problem. Admit that you are hurt or disappointed or angry. God can take it. He is not afraid of your honest questions, and He doesn't expect you to gloss over the problem in the name of being spiritual. Read the book of Psalms and you will see that anger and sorrow are expressed as well as praise and thankfulness. If you can be real with God, then He can really help you.

Next, assess the situation. Ask God for wisdom and guidance. Take responsibility for what you can do in the situation. Do you need to admit a fault or ask someone for forgiveness? Do you need to make a wrong right? Is there a positive action you can take to ease the situation, relieve the trouble, or make things better? Avoid complaining. Instead, do what is in your power to do.

Perhaps there is nothing you can do right now to make things better. You may need to wait for the right timing. Or maybe something else must happen first or someone else needs to do his or her part. Sometimes a broken thing is broken and can't be fixed. Acknowledge what is out of your hands and put it into God's hands.

In the darkness, out of sight, God will use the pressures and problems to create the lovely jewel of a quiet spirit, a strengthened character, and a wiser heart. One day you will see-whether in this life or in the shining, glorious crown of glory you will behold in the next life. There are treasures to be discovered in the darkness, and troubles can be transformed into glorious victories if you can walk through them trusting God.

I WILL!

TRUST GOD WITH MY TROUBLES.

BE POSITIVE WHEN I'M TEMPTED TO
COMPLAIN.

LOOK FOR THE LESSONS MY TROUBLES CAN
TEACH ME.

REMEMBER THT TROUBLES ARE TEMPORARY
AND THAT MY TRUE HOPE RESTS IN ETERNAL
THINGS.

BE WILLING TO TAKE EXTRA EFFORT WITH MY
APPEARANCE WHEN I'M FEELING DOWNHEARTED.

BE GRATEFUL FOR THE SMALL THINGS THAT I
NORMALLY TAKE FOR GRANTED.

THINGS TO DO!

THE NEXT TIME YOU ARE TEMPTED TO COMPLAIN,
QUICKLY LIST FIVE THINGS YOU ARE GRATEFUL FOR.

READ PSALM 42.

DO ONE KIND DEED WITHOUT BEING DISCOVERED.

WRITE IN YOUR JOURNAL ABOUT THREE THINGS THAT
TROUBLE YOU AND HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THEM.

HAVE A QUIET HALF-HOUR BY YOURSELF AND
RELAX.

DRESS AS BECOMINGLY AS POSSIBLE TODAY-YOU
WILL FEEL BETTER AND MAKE OTHERS FEEL BETTER, TOO.


(OUOTES)

IN TIMES OF TROUBLE, REMEMBER THAT GOD IS TOO
KIND TO BE CRUEL, TOO WISE TO MAKE A MISTAKE,
AND TOO DEEP TO EXPLAIN HIMSELF. (author unknown)

I WOULD RATHER WALK WITH GOD IN THE DARK THAN
GO ALONE IN THE LIGHT. mary gardiner brainard




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