Difficult times are a part of this life. I have found, however, that when the circumstances are greatest, God speaks the clearest.

This past summer our family had the opportunity to spend a week’s vacation on the coast of Lake Michigan, near Harbor Springs, Michigan. One evening, after the festivities of the day, I ventured out for a walk. As I walked away from the lights of the lodge, I quickly realized how dark the night was. I stood in wonder as every star popped against a pitch-black sky. Most of us who live surrounded by city lights rarely see such brilliance. With no moon out that evening, and away from city lights, the sky was amazing. When the sky is darkest, the light shines brightest.

This same principle is true spiritually speaking regarding the seasons of life. The Bible teaches that God rises up on our behalf when difficult times press in against us. Romans 5:20 says, “…where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” There is a spiritual principle found here in this verse, and that is: where Satan is at work with his evil plans, God is much more present in power to deliver. God’s power is always greater than Satan’s power.

1 John 4:4
(4)  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

Darkness verses Light

In Scripture, darkness and night are always figurative of Satan’s domain, his works, and evil times; God’s kingdom with His power to bless and do well is described as light. When Jesus appeared to Paul and called him into the ministry, He told him that He ordained him to go to the multitudes and “turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God” (Acts 28.18). Here, Jesus refers to Satan’s power as “darkness.”  Satan, through the fall of man, became the god of this world (2 Cor. 4:4). This brought a spiritual darkness to creation. This is why 1 John 5:19 states that the whole world lies in darkness. This present world system is largely under the control of Satan. That explains much of the suffering that we witness in this world.

It is only a matter of time before darkness tries to overtake us, even as Christians. God, however, always shines forth light in our dark times. John 1:5 says, “The light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not.” Light here speaks of the coming of Jesus for our salvation and deliverance from Satan’s bonds. Jesus is called the “light of the world” (John 8:12). In His mission of redemption, Jesus defeated Satan and all of his works.

John 1:5
The Light Shines In The Darkness, and the darkeness did not comprehend it

He is the wonderful light that shines out hope in a darken world. God always has light to illumine our way; He always has something good to tell us. What’s more, the darker the night, the brighter His light will shine about us! Where Satan abounds, God’s grace much more abounds towards us!

Where Satan is at work with his evil plans, God is much more present in power to deliver you.

As believers, we should not live in darkness. Colossians 3:13 says that we have been “delivered from the power of darkness.” Christ has called us out of the darkness of Satan’s control into the marvelous light of His victory. Although there will be times that we have to face Satan’s tests, we don’t have to fall to them.  God is more than enough to put us over. I find in those dark times that God will always speak faith and victory. He always speaks about Jesus who is our victory! God never speaks fear, doubt, failure, and hopelessness.

Playing into Satan’s Hands

Several years ago, I witnessed a tragedy. It did not concern me personally, but it brushed up against me. I confess to you that I allowed the situation to open a door in my life to what the Bible calls “a spirit of fear” (2 Timothy 1:7). I played the part of fear and it robbed me of all assurance of the future. Let me tell you, the sky turned dark. I know what Moses meant when he told wayward Israel that they would run when no one chased them (Leviticus 26:36).  Only a couple of times in my life have I had to deal with a spirit of fear and this was one of them.

I went a month like this until one day a little pamphlet from a ministry arrived in the mail. It was entitled, God Works with the Word. Oh, this was a good word in season.  I knew that basic truth, but in a severe trial, when the sky is black and Satan is shouting his lies in your ears, you can forget the Word of God. It reminded me that God has no favorites.  And He honors His Word above all! Men may fail, even anointed ministries may fail, but God’s Word never fails. If we will keep His Word, He will keep all that concerns us. How could I for one minute consider my circumstances or the circumstances of another over the Word of God? The dark skies rolled back, and the light of heaven shined through to my heart and mind as the Lord reminded me that I could have what His Word says that I can have.

God’s Word is a  Lamp

This was a difficult time in my life, but the black sky only served as a backdrop for the light of God’s Word and the hope we have in Christ’s victory over Satan. When the sky is the blackest, the Light shines brightest. Where Satan’s works abound, God’s grace and victory abound far more! God’s Word will always lighten our way. Psalms 119:105 says, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” His Holy Spirit in us will speak just what we need from the Word of God when we need it. This underscores the importance of reading His Word daily and applying it to our life.

I wonder if we don’t always hear Him for all the noise in our mind. I recently heard a preacher addressing the subject of God speaking to us in trials. He made an interesting point from what Jesus said in Matthew 10:27: “What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.” The minister pointed out that God always speaks to us in “darkness”, but we often only get a whisper “in the ear”. That caught my attention. Can you hear the whispers of God’s Word in your spirit? Though His voice may be but a whisper, it’s packed with power to dispel the darkness and move us forward in His blessings.

Determine to spend more time with God in His Word and in prayer. When you do this, you build God’s resources into your life. Then when the dark hour comes, it will not overtake you. You will find that God will rise up within you, and Satan’s plans against you will fail. Romans 13:12 tells us, “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.” Notice how the enemy will try to surround you with darkness. This may be discouragement, it may be anger towards someone, or it may be a subtle unbelief towards everything that God says. Whatever these works of darkness may be, never give in to them. Cast them down through the truth of God’s Word. Remember, the darker the night may seem, the brighter God’s light can shine unto you.

Randall D. Waibel,
Founder of ExpectGod.com,
A Ministry resource site designed to
encourage the believer’s faith toward God.