Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the word of his servant? Let the one who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the LORD and rely on their God. Isaiah 50:10

In what area of your life has the light gone out? You desire to follow God; you want to do His will, but His will is unclear. You pray, you read the Scripture, you wait, and nothing — no light, no direction.

Maybe your area of darkness is finding direction in your work, the right choice of schools or degrees. Perhaps it is whether to adopt a child, reconcile with an erring spouse or how to best financially provide for your family or shepherd a rebellious teen. Your darkness may be emotional and spiritual in nature; the lights have gone out and you can’t find your way out of the tunnel of despair. What are we to do in such times?

The tendency is to create our own “light” or direction. “God hasn’t answered me so I need to find my way out of the darkness and misery.” God knows our tendency and warns against such actions in Isaiah 51:11. Those who create their own light and follow it will lie down in torment.

There are times when God speaks with crystal clarity and there are times when He is silent. Perhaps that is how Abraham and Sarah felt after God clearly promised Abraham a son but years came and went with no pregnancy for Sarah.

The solution was quite obvious to the couple. We will find our own way to have a child. But as soon as Sarah’s handmaiden, Hagar, was pregnant, they knew they had made a mistake and their lives were tormented.

If we are not to create our own solutions, what are we to do? God never commends passivity, instead He tells us to trust. The above verse tells us to trust in the name of the LORD and rely on God. Trust is not passive, it takes energy and resolve. It includes walking in the light you do have. For example, while you wait for direction in business, you know you are to be honest in your present work. While waiting for direction in your strained marriage, you are to remain faithful.

At the right time God provided Sarah and Abraham a son. He was not late for His purpose. He needed Sarah to be past childbearing age for the miracle of Isaac’s birth to have the lasting impact and lessons needed for the nation of Israel and for us today.

Resolve to actively trust God in your area of darkness. Continue to walk in the direction in which He last spoke clearly until He turns the light on again. God doesn’t leave us in the dark forever.

Blessings,

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All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.™   Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.