The Lord inspired a verse to me this morning. I had a thought from last week to write about this evening, but God changed his mind and gave a different inspiration when I prepared to write. I hope this will be an encouragement and challenge to all of you.
God works in mysterious ways. Just like he changed my thoughts of I was planning to write about, he also reveals things to us in ways we may not sometimes understand. Today, I had an interview with someone from Crowder College where I plan to attend after I graduate. We were talking about different things in life that have been a challenge and a struggle to get through, and how ultimately, through those things, we are better equipped to handle life -- we learn from them. God can teach us things and work in us during those hardships, even if it's a circumstance we can't see working for good.
Last night, I was talking to one of my close friends about something difficult they've been enduring. Sometimes we don't see how God can possibly be in a situation that hurts us so bad and makes it hard for us to feel like praying. God sometimes doesn't resolve the issues we pray to fix, and that's a hard thing to swallow. Yet, bringing us to an extremely low place where ALL we can do is submit ourselves to God is sometimes the way he chooses to refine his children.
These are just a couple of examples of how God works in ways we might not always understand. Yet, God doesn't expect us to just endure things for the sake of enduring them. Everything in our life happens for a greater purpose. To glorify him, make faithful servants out of us, and to advance the gospel. There was a verse I read this morning that hit that point home to me, and as you'll see, I felt compelled to share it. The verse is Matthew 10:26-28, but particularly verse 27.
[26] Fear them not therefore; for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.
[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.
[28] And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Verse 26 speaks to the idea that we shouldn't fear persecutors or non-believers. God sees everything that happens, good and bad. This should be a consolation to believers who serve the Lord in spirit and in truth. Then, in verse 27, he says "what I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light." This was such a powerful portion of scripture to me when I read it. In those times we are downtrodden and everything seems dark, God is faithful to meet us in that place. He shows us things we didn't realize before. He's a faithful teacher. That darkness could be the solitude and silence of our prayer closet. It's a dark, quiet place for us to plead to the Father to abide with us and teach us things. Light makes it where everyone can see. It's more public. But darkness, hidden from the view of everyone, is where God can teach us better. He's faithful to reveal things to us. He's our teacher of spiritual things, and the Bible is our guide to those things. The way it was inspired to me is that in the darkness of our trials and the solitude of our studying, God reveals some of the most precious things. I have found it to be true for me. In my deepest struggles and when I'm taking extra time to be with God, he has opened up his word in a way that was amazing. Yet, I don't think he does it only to serve us.
The second part of that phrase says "that speak ye in light." Hold on, I thought God was teaching ME... right? That's true. But, God has a place for us to share some of the things he taught to us. That doesn't mean we have to share the personal struggles we faced, but the lessons he taught us through those experiences? That's how it reads to me. I have had some rough times, wondering why God had to take things from me that I thought were mine. But, he has shown me that it's not really mine. Everything is his to control, and I have to be willing to submit to whatever his will is. It's helped me mature quite a bit.
This may seem spontaneous and scattered, but it was a big challenge to me to be at the place where I can receive those things. He'll only reveal things to a teachable child. If we aren't pliable and willing to let him work, we can't learn the things has to teach us in secret. Distractions and modern conveniences (like my phone) can get in the way of me having contact with God in a way that I can get the revelation he has for me and the opening of his word to my heart. The speaking in light that is mentioned in this verse does not exist independently. It's reliant on us FIRST getting the teaching and what God tells us in the darkness, or outside of the public view. That's a challenge to me to have my heart conditioned to the place where I can learn these things. Am I distracted by other things? Do I give God enough time in my life? Am I humbled to a place that God can work with me? Only then can I fulfill the other part of the scripture that instructs us to speak in the light. God is truth. He teaches truth. We should be dispensing the truth to those who don't know it or who need encouragement in the truth. It's a great challenge to me.
As the final verse says, our enemy is the devil. Only he can destroy both our body and soul in hell. All others are of earth, and have no power of our spirituality. This gives me confidence that the truth all-powerful. It can't be taken down by people who disagree or who persecute me because of my belief. All of this has given me a renewed inspiration to keep writing for God. Keep speaking (or, in this case, typing) the truth God reveals to me and MAINTAIN a place where God can reveal things from his word. It's truly wonderful when God visits and refreshes our spirit, I'm so thankful for that. I'll be praying for all of you. I hope you all have a blessed week, and I'll leave you with this challenge:
Allow God to teach you in the darkness, and when it's over, don't be afraid to proclaim his greatness and faithful teachings.
Keep encouraged!
