07 – Violeta - Faith in Darkness: Anchoring in God's Promises
“In a time of trial, like sister Violeta experienced, it’s easy to lose heart, to question God’s presence, and to doubt His promises. But today’s message is about persevering through the darkness, clinging to the confidence we have in Christ Jesus.”
Clinging to Confidence in the Darkness
In a time of trial, like sister Violeta experienced, it's easy to lose heart, to question God's presence, and to doubt His promises. But today’s message is about persevering through the darkness, clinging to the confidence we have in Christ Jesus.
The enemy fights fiercely against our faith. He uses devils of hell to discourage us, to prevent us from sharing testimonies of God's goodness. But God’s mercy prevails. He guides people to the truth at just the right time, preventing suicides, sparking hope where there was despair. When the Father guides someone to a story of His faithfulness, it's His hand reaching through the darkness, breathing life and encouragement into the heart of a saint He loves.
We have a vital role to play in our faith: to trust God, even when we don't feel His presence. "So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded" (Hebrews 10:35). Darkness can cause us to forget the promises God has made and the desires He has for us. But we must not throw away our confidence. We must persevere so that after we have done the will of God, we will receive what he has promised.
It’s easy to want to quit when trials come. There are days when we cry out, “I can’t make it through today!” In those moments, we must fix our eyes on Jesus, "the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:2). Jesus looked through the cross, seeing the joy on the other side. He endured, scorning its shame. He didn’t give up.
We too must endure. God disciplines those he loves (Hebrews 12:6). He tempers us like a blacksmith tempers steel, putting us through fire and water to refine us. He is testing our hearts to see if we will obey Him, teaching us that man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God (Deuteronomy 8:3).
“If you forsake me, I will forsake you” (2 Chronicles 15:2). So, stay with Him, cling to Him, don’t look back. "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God" (Luke 9:62). Keep your eyes up and forward. Even when you cannot sense His presence, trust that He is still working. He is testing you, refining you, growing you up. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).
God brings us into periods of darkness to test us, to humble us, and to see if we will obey Him. “Those who light fires for themselves…this is what you will receive from me: You will lie down in torment” (Isaiah 50:11). Don’t try to create your own light. Trust in Him. He is faithful. “If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me” (Jeremiah 29:13).
