“It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining.”
— Luke 23:44
I don’t know about you but there have been times when it seems like darkness has come over the whole land and the sun truly has stopped shining!
Political corruption, COVID-19 (and trying to discover what is actually true and what is not!), cancer diagnosis, divorce, despair, depression, loneliness, and the list could go on and on.
If darkness doesn’t come directly into our lives it seems it can come indirectly from concerns we have for others. Whether it is a sudden arrest in our family, alcohol and drug addiction, loved ones that have walked away from God and the church, broken family relationships where people are not talking to each other anymore or a host of other concerns can leave us feeling completely overwhelmed!
Where do we go then? Psalm 62:1, 2, 5 and 8 says, “Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from Him. Truly He is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress; I will never be shaken (emphasis mine). Yes, my soul, find rest in God: my hope comes from Him. Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge.”
The verse I referenced at the beginning of this article was at the time of Jesus’ death on the cross. All did seem dark, not only physically but also within the souls of all those who loved and followed Him. This was not how life was supposed to be! There was so much more to do! God, however, had the far bigger plan!
Our salvation does come from Him for three days later when the women went to visit the tomb of Jesus they did not find a body but instead there were “two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them….the men said to them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen!” (Luke 24:4-6).
God’s plan did seem dark for a time but then came the morning! Jesus rose from the grave to conquer death and sin! Nothing escapes God and He is in control accomplishing His plan. We don’t often understand the ‘why’ to all we go through but we can claim His promises that He is our Rock! God is our Refuge!
My sister who is currently in the middle of treatment for breast cancer encouraged me when she said, “The story’s not over and God holds the pen!”
I find such comfort in that because I can’t change so many of the things that concern me today but I can go to my Fortress, my Rock, and my Refuge. When I trust the one who ‘holds the pen’ I do find that “I will never be shaken!”
Find your rest in God for that is where your hope will come from too!
