Tears

Lord, you have brought light to my life;

my God, you light up my darkness.”

(Psalm 18:28 - NLT)

“He led them from the darkness and deepest gloom;

he snapped their chains”

(Psalm 107: 14 - NLT)

I don’t know about you - but I have found that life has its fair share of dark and rainy days. There are days, perhaps even weeks where heaven appeared silent, the way ahead looked dark and uncertain, prayers go (apparently) unanswered and there is little felt sense of my Father’s love.

In such darkness, very often, it is difficult to see even a glint of light. That natural character and personality will affect these times to a greater or lesser degree is without doubt. But such feelings are real and painful and can lead to doubt, depression and separation. In times like these we cry with David the Psalmist – “Do not abandon me, Lord. Do not stand at a distance, my God. Come quickly to help me, O Lord my Saviour.” (Psalm 38: 21&22 - NLT).

Attempting to help others in such circumstances is not easy. However, I have discovered that the worst thing we can do is to wear a “mask” and act as if we ourselves never pass through such experiences. Conversely, to open our own lives in total honesty can, very often, bring light to the darkest night in the life of another person.

The truth is our lives are like the seasons. Without a winter – spring would never hold the same freshness and beauty. Without a summer – winter would seem perpetual – and the long dark night never ending.

Psalm 40 verse 2 is, I suspect, the sequel to Psalm 38: 21&22 for there we have the testimony – “He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing”. No one enjoys the ”pit, mud and mire” yet without the “pit” there would not have been a new song, without the mud and mire there would have been no fresh testimony of salvation.