when darkness delivers

In the blockbuster-hit movie, “The Dark Knight,” Harvey Dent, the District Attorney of Gotham City, is quoted as saying; “The night is darkest just before the dawn. And I promise you, the dawn is coming.” While it was a good line in a great movie, this idea appears to have first been penned in 1650 by the English theologian and historian Thomas Fuller. Who wrote in A Pisgah-Sight of Palestine And The Confines Thereof, “It is always darkest just before the Day dawneth.”

Towards the end of each of the Gospel accounts we are told that followers of Jesus find themselves brokenhearted and distraught. As far as they’re concerned it’s over. Their hopes of a new Kingdom being established have been crucified along with their leader, Jesus, on a cross. This fledgling revolution that was just getting off the ground had seemed to come to a screeching halt. And as far as they know they might be the next to be murdered because of their association with this man Jesus who was convicted and executed for treason.

And yet it was at this very moment in history where it seemed that all was lost, that God was done working, and the movement was dead, it was there in the silence that God waited to write his masterpiece. At a moment where it seemed that God was silent and doing nothing at all, ironically enough it was then that He was actually doing His very best work.

If you’ve ever felt as though the dream God has given you has come to an abrupt end or if you’ve ever wondered, “God where are you at in the middle of my circumstances?” it may add some perspective to remember what kind of company you’re in.

Joseph was left for dead, sold into slavery, and forgotten in a royal jail. Daniel was a prisoner of war and fed to the lions. Jonah spent three nights in the belly of a great fish. Esther was kidnapped, forced to sleep with the King, and discovered that she along with her people were to be brutally murdered. Abraham was commanded by God to sacrifice his son, and the list goes on and on…and on. Over and over and over again God used moments such as these to do His very best work and put His character and glory on display for the nations.

While the moment you find yourself walking in may seem dark, hopeless at times, and that God is nowhere to be found. In the days to come you may just be surprised to look back and discover that it was in this moment of silence that He was doing His very best work in you.