What a beautiful thing it is to be developed in the dark.

There are times when God hides us. He takes us out of where we were before. Out of our comfort zones, out of our fleshly strengths, and worldly prides. Allowing us to feel what it’s like to be as we are. Human. He reminds us that He is God and that we are not. He allows us to be pruned. Removing all that was hindering the fruitfulness in our lives under the surface. He allows us to walk through the fire. Exposing and refining the things within us that we didn’t even know we had.

He allows us to stand before him naked. Giving us the ability to see what is truly in our hearts. So he can make us pure again. He can make us new again. He can remind us that HE alone is God, and we are not.

Oh! What a beautiful thing it is to be developed and refined in the shadows. Allowing the Lord to take those impurities and painful imperfections and giving Him the space to HEAL. Heal what was broken, realign what was incorrectly prioritized, renew what was lost, and strengthen what was frail.

It is difficult to walk through things alone that we do not understand. It is painful to feel things that we don’t want to exist. It is gut-wrenching to watch our fears unfold. Yet God. He holds our hand and reminds us of His words.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. – Psalm 23:4 KJV

I walk. I don’t stand, I don’t sulk, I don’t quit. I walk. I walk with Him. Because His rod and His staff comfort me. His rod corrects the things in me and disciplines me in all that is incorrect. (Because He loves.) And His staff guides me. Through the confusion, the turmoil, the uncertainty. HE guides me.

As I surrender to Jesus and His ways, I begin to melt in that fire. And I am refined. Allowing me to be purified to His perfect will for me. Oh Lord, help us to submit to YOUR ways! To YOUR truth! To YOUR will.

Recently, we began walking into an uncertain time. And I understood that God wanted me to trust Him as our provider. I remember sitting on my couch, and tears were rolling down my cheeks as I processed what we were about to walk through. During that time, I remember the Lord telling me gently that though I was in the fire, I would not be burned. As Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were in the fire. Even their clothes didn’t smell like fire, so would I be. This could only happen one way. Because My Savior would be with me in that fire.

Jesus, is our unfailing hope. No matter what we face, if we are to turn to Him, He will walk with us through the fire. He will protect us, He will provide for us, and His rod and staff will comfort us.

It is not ever my own strength, wisdom, or ways that will get me to be faithful. It is all His. We like to think that we are in control, or have a slight capability of controlling. But ultimately, we don’t. We wreck things in our own strength. We must get to a point in our walks where we submit. He is our LORD after all. Lord means master. Lord is not just a savior. He’s the one in control. And if we let go and submit, that’s where the real work begins.

Prayer:

Jesus, thank you that You have never forsaken me. I ask you to do your work in me. Give me the ability to submit to You in all of my ways. Give me a humble heart, open ears, and a heart that is on fire for You. Thank you for all that You have done in my life. And all that You are doing. Help me to run this race for You with everything that I am. Prune in me the things that don’t belong. And help me to bring you glory for all the days you’ve given me. Thank you for being my faithful Father. I love you Lord. Amen.