Never Doubt In Darkness

Good morning and welcome to Our Daily Walk.

Audio version at http://tinyurl.com/25bdsv

Are you afraid of the dark? Many people are. But fear of the dark is usually reserved for unfamiliar places. I can still remember being on a tour in a cave and feeling totally lost when the guides turned off the lights. Total darkness. Nothing was familiar. No walls were within reach. Before long it became difficult to even stand up straight without starting to sway. But even then I trusted that the lights would be turned on again and we would soon have no fear.

We understand that darkness is only temporary in most cases. A child who is afraid of the dark at night will soon learn that morning will chase away the darkness. Even though he may feel anxious at bedtime he has the hope that the sun will rise the next morning. Eventually he gains more courage knowing that the darkness will not remain forever. His fear, darkness, is only temporary. His hope is in the sunshine of daybreak.

Someone has said, “Never doubt in the darkness what God has told you in the light.” I think that is a great thought. Just imagine the implications.

When we know that God is for us and with us, then of what should we be afraid? David said as much in Psalm 27:1 when he said, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?”

If we put our faith and trust in God we should never fear what the darkness of this world brings. But if we should ever forget God, well, that would be a different story.

Notice the following readings from Deuteronomy 8.

Verses 1-2 say, “Every commandment which I command you today you must be careful to observe, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land of which the LORD swore to your fathers. And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.”

Friends, God provided for the Israelites by feeding them and protecting them. Their clothes did not wear out nor did their feet swell during those forty years. Yet, not all of them would pass the test of the lord. They were not all willing to trust and follow God.

Verse 6 says, “Therefore you shall keep the commandments of the LORD your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him.”

They were to obey God because He had proven His love to them and was about to bring them into the land of promise. However, a challenge still remained. Some would not remember God and would not appreciate the blessings that He had provided.

Verses 11 says, “Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today.”

It seems incredible to me that anyone could forget what God had done for them. Yet this was soon to happen. Verse 17 indicates that some would be tempted to enjoy the blessings of the land God provided and claim the credit for themselves as they say, “My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.”

Finally, verses 18-20 state, “And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. Then it shall be, if you by any means forget the LORD your God, and follow other gods, and serve them and worship them, I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish. As the nations which the LORD destroys before you, so you shall perish, because you would not be obedient to the voice of the LORD your God.

Being in a totally darkened room is a really fearful experience. But being in a life that is devoid of the light of the Son of God is even more fearful. Friends, we ought to remember God daily in our lives and constantly renew our commitment to Him.

On Our Daily Walk today, may we learn to always trust God and have our hope in Him. May we never doubt what God has promised us, especially when we are surrounded by the darkness of this world.

Our thought for the day: “Doubt sees the obstacles—faith sees the way.”

May God bless you on your daily walk.

© Our Daily Walk, Mike Baker, 2007. Permission is granted to copy these articles provided they are not sold and the author's name and copyright are included.