Can God Be Trusted In The Dark?

Why does our faith vacillate so much when life changes on us? When the sun disappears behind dark and threatening storm clouds?

We say we trust the Lord, that he is able to do anything, yet we become a nervous wreck when things don’t go as planned. We say he’s good (all the time) but act as though he’s not. We declare we can do everything through Christ who gives us strength, but complain the moment we feel the slightest bit of trouble.

We are quick to say, “Amen”, when the preacher speaks about Jehovah-Jireh, the God who provides. But when we can’t see a way out of our situation we want to rag on the preacher!

Why?

Maybe it’s because we don’t really know God as well as we say we do. Or, maybe we are too absorbed with our own little kingdom, rather than the kingdom of God. Possibly it’s because we don’t understand a basic truth about God.

God reveals himself against the backdrop of lack, trouble, and death. His handiwork is easier to see when the sky is dark and stormy. His signature is much more noticeable when the cupboards are bare. Paul said it this way:

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10 ESV)

God used 4 lepers to rout the whole Syrian army. 2 Kings 7

He provided a ram for Abraham to sacrifice, rather than his son. Genesis 22

Defeated the army of Moab after he told the Israelites to dig ditches. 2 Kings 3

Fed 5,000 plus with only the food found in a little boy’s lunchbox. John 6

Made a borrowed axe head float and swim, as Elisha tossed a stick into the water. 2 Kings 6

When the earth was created, he used things unseen to make all that can be seen. Hebrews 11

Killed 185,000 enemy soldiers with one angel. Isaiah 37

Remember: when circumstances scream “impossible”, that’s when you’ll hear God speak the loudest…

“Here I am.”