Have you ever experienced a darkness so thick that it almost takes on a form of its own? I have.

When I was growing up, I used to love to go outside on the swing after dark. It wouldn’t have been so difficult, but we lived in the country, and there were no streetlights, which meant I would need to make the trip down the path in the pitch black of night, with tall grasses and briars on each side. All kinds of creepy things lurked on either side of the path at night, but I knew that if I could make it to the swing, I would be safe because it was in a clearing.

When I looked out across the yard I couldn’t see the swing, as a matter of fact, I could barely see my hand in front of my face, but it was worth the effort just to get the fresh air and time alone.

I learned long ago that when I wanted to go to the swing I couldn’t look out into the darkness and expect to have my way made clear. I couldn’t look to the left or to the right without being slightly afraid of what may jump out at me: my cat, my dog, or something that I didn’t even want to imagine.
I noticed every time I stepped out in faith, the trees and buildings began to take shape.
When my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I could see enough to keep walking toward my
destination: the swing. I didn’t need to look behind me because I knew that I had already overcome the past. In that hour, with my goal clearly in sight now, I knew that by faith I could keep walking to the swing. When I reached my destination, I would sit down with a sigh of relief, and look up.

Night after night, I tried to count the billions of stars shining down on me. Those stars were faithfully shining in the dark. It didn’t matter if the clouds tried to overtake them or rain, they kept shining. If I didn’t take the time to look up, I may not know that they were even there. Many times I watched clouds roll in and try to cover the stars but the Lord would send the winds to make the clouds keep moving.

We as Christians spend much of our lifetimes in dark places: trouble, sorrow, fear, difficulties, and sometimes we forget to take the time to look up to the source of our strength. Jesus Christ, like the stars, gives light and hope.

No matter what you are facing, today, in the natural realm, always remember to look up. “I will look unto the hills from whence cometh my help, my help cometh from the Lord.” It may not seem that God cares, or will deliver you from your hardship; and I have felt that way time and again. After I accepted God’s will for my life, and placed my life into his hands; he performed the miracle.
No amount of begging will get a prayer delivered before the appointed time. We can spend needless energy and anxious hours helping God bring his will to pass, when what he desires is that we use our time wisely to seek his face in worship and praise, and learn to trust him that he will do whatsoever we ask, in his time, because his time is always perfect.
Are you ready for a miracle today? Then, worship God! Expect it. Remember, your miracle may not be delivered today, next week, or 20+ years from now; it doesn’t matter when the miracle will come to pass; if the Lord promised to deliver it into your hands at the appointed time. He will! Rejoice in the Lord, always. Wait on the Lord.

 Striving for Excellence