From Darkness to Light: Trusting God's Promises

I will make Darkness light before them and crooked things straight. Believer, observe that before you often lies a grim Darkness. Upon that Darkness, let us make these comforting observations: first, that much of the darkness is of your own imagining. As we feel a thousand deaths in fearing one, so do we feel a thousand afflictions in the fear of Sorrows which will never come. Probably the major part of our griefs are born, nourished, and perfected entirely in an anxious, imaginative brain. [00:41:17]

Half our afflictions are only appalling in Prospect because we do not know what they are, and if we will but in faith patiently await them, they will be but light and transient. Thus, by chasing away the Gloom of our dark imagination, God often makes Darkness light before us. Much again of the darkness which does really exist is exaggerated. There is some cause for alarm, but not one half the cause which your fancy pictures. [00:07:36]

See the host of Israel. They have escaped out of Egypt, but they are pursued by their taskmasters. They come to a spot where they are enclosed on either Hand by mountains while the Chariots of Egypt are in the rear. How is it possible for them to escape? They are entangled in the land; the Wilderness has shut them in. Forward, cries the prophet, forward, hosts of God. But how can they Advance? The Red Sea rolls right in their path. [00:10:12]

Reflect again that where this does not exactly occur and the trial does really come, yet the Lord has a way of making the trials of his people to cease when they reach their culminating Point. As the sea, when it reaches the highest Mark of flood, can advance no further, but after pausing for a while to enjoy the fullness of its strength, must then return to its EB, so with our most desperate Sorrows. [00:14:06]

Every trial of our pilgrimage life was foreseen of God, and we may depend upon it that it has been forestalled. Many a besieged city has been captured because the siege was not expected, and therefore stores of provision and ammunition were not laid up for the evil day. But God, who laid up seven years of food in Egypt against the seven years of famine which he foresaw, takes care to lay by in store for his Saints against coming emergencies. [00:17:49]

Let us, if our trials multiply, recollect that Grace abounding will be given with them, and the mingled trial and the grace will make our lives Sublime, prevent our being mere dumb and driven cattle, and give us kinship with those who through much tribulation have ascended to their Thrones. The battle and the storm, the strife and the Victory, the depression and the uplifting, and all else that betides us in a varied and eventful life shall help to make our Eternal rest and Glory the more sweet to us. [00:22:05]

How soon can omnipotence accomplish this? It takes us much time to create light. We must form companies and erect machineries before we can turn the night of our great cities into a partial day. But tomorrow morning, however black the previous night may have been, the great father of lights will illuminate our whole nation in a few minutes and make each wave of the sea and each DW drop of the lawn to gleam with silvery Sheen. [00:23:12]

Notice for your Comfort some of the ways in which the Lord of love banishes the midnight of the Soul. Sometimes he removes all Gloom by the son of his Providence. He bids Prosperity shine into the window of the H and the poor Grow Rich. He lifts the beggar from the dungill and sth him among princes. The wings of angels bear healing to the sick, and the man long tossing on his bed walks forth to breathe the pure Sweet Air so long denied him. [00:24:56]

Frequently, our heavenly father cheers his children by a sight of Jesus going before. That defile between overhanging rocks is so dark. I, a poor timid child, shrink back from it. But how is my courage restored as I see Jesus bearing the lantern of his love and going before me into the thick Darkness? Hark, I hear him say, follow me, and while he speaks, I perceive a light streaming from his sacred person. [00:26:47]

Oftentimes, you and I have known by experience how the Lord has made our Darkness light when, in a moment, a text of scripture has flashed up before our eyes like a beacon fire. I bless God there are parts of his precious book which I do not only retain In My Memory but in my heart. They have been so applied to my soul in times of need that to forget them would be utterly impossible. [00:31:17]

The Crooked thing is really crooked now, but there is a transformation in store. Sinner, it is not what you are now that is to be your salvation. You are dark and crooked, but your salvation shall yet be given you. You shall be light in the Lord and upright through his grace. Note secondly, it is not what you can do but what God can do. I will make Darkness light, not the sinner shall turn his Darkness into light. [00:49:00]

I pray God bless the word to you who are tried Believers to give you peace and confidence and to you who is seeking Sinners that you may trust in Christ and find Salvation. The Lord bless you richly for his name's sake. Amen. [00:53:35]