Written by Emma Burkholder
There is a time for death, a time to weep, a time to mourn, a time to give up what is lost. Solomon tempers these points with an uplifting note of their antitheses, but there will still be times when we walk through seasons of darkness. Moments of despair come in countless forms. Throughout scripture, we have no shortage of paragons of anguish. Individuals like Job, who suffered unimaginable loss and grief (Job 1:18-19). Or David who undoubtedly struggled with mental health (Psalm 143:3-4). Or Jesus (Matthew 26:38-39), who approached ultimate pain, both spiritual and physical, as well as undeserved death. In each of these examples, these men were called to endure their anguish, and to bear the darkness that had come upon them, with unsatisfactory answers from God.
God will not always respond to our dark moments with the light we so desperately crave. So what can we do? When God does not intercede in the darkness, how do we go on living?
Trust.
There has never been a time where trust in the Lord has failed. There is always a purpose for our season of darkness. We can trust that we serve a God who is never abusive, indifferent, vindictive, or reckless. Enduring our anguish in trust, just like Job, David, and Jesus, will serve His purposes. And His purposes are good, pleasing, and perfect.
