When We're in the Dark
God is working out His purpose in our lives, even in the darkest times, and we must trust Him and have faith in His design.
Charles E. Cowman preaches about finding treasures in darkness, drawing a parallel to the delicate art of lace weaving in a darkened room where only the pattern is illuminated. He encourages believers to trust God's unseen hand at work in their lives, even when they are in the midst of confusion and darkness, as the most exquisite work is often done in those challenging times. The message emphasizes the importance of faith, perseverance, and trust in God's ultimate plan, assuring that He will bring beauty and goodness out of every trial and hardship.
Text
"I will give thee the treasures of darkness" (Isa. 45:3).
In the famous lace shops of Brussels, there are certain rooms devoted to the spinning of the finest and most delicate patterns. These rooms are altogether darkened, save for a light from one very small window, which falls directly upon the pattern. There is only one spinner in the room, and he sits where the narrow stream of light falls upon the threads of his weaving. "Thus," we are told by the guide, "do we secure our choicest products. Lace is always more delicately and beautifully woven when the worker himself is in the dark and only his pattern is in the light."
May it not be the same with us in our weaving? Sometimes it is very dark. We cannot understand what we are doing. We do not see the web we are weaving. We are not able to discover any beauty, any possible good in our experience. Yet if we are faithful and fail not and faint not, we shall some day know that the most exquisite work of all our life was done in those days when it was so dark.
If you are in the deep shadows because of some strange, mysterious providence, do not be afraid. Simply go on in faith and love, never doubting. God is watching, and He will bring good and beauty out of all your pain and tears. --J. R. Miller
The shuttles of His purpose move
To carry out His own design;
Seek not too soon to disapprove
His work, nor yet assign
Dark motives, when, with silent tread,
You view some sombre fold;
For lo, within each darker thread
There twines a thread of gold.
Spin cheerfully,
Not tearfully,
He knows the way you plod;
Spin carefully,
Spin prayerfully,
But leave the thread with God.
--Canadian Home Journal
Sermon Outline
- God's Sovereignty in Darkness
- The Mystery of God's Ways
- The Power of Faith and Prayer
- Faith and love in the dark
- Prayerful and careful spinning
- Leaving the thread with God
Key Quotes
“Thus, we secure our choicest products. Lace is always more delicately and beautifully woven when the worker himself is in the dark and only his pattern is in the light.” — Charles E. Cowman
“Spin cheerfully, Not tearfully, He knows the way you plod;” — Charles E. Cowman
“For lo, within each darker thread There twines a thread of gold.” — Charles E. Cowman
Application Points
- We must have faith and love in the dark, trusting that God is working out His purpose.
- We must pray carefully and prayerfully, leaving the thread with God.
- We must look for the thread of gold in each darker thread, and trust that God is working out His beauty in our lives.