Treasures of Darkness

Posted on August 8, 2017 by Graeme Wilson in Victory Call

I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden wealth of secret places, so that you may know that it is I, The LORD, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name (Isaiah 45:3, NASB).
While emptying the trash can from my group counseling and meeting room after one recent session, the mass of spent, crumpled tissues that tumbled out commanded my attention. Momentarily stalled, I fixated on them as the faces they represented flashed across my mind. My thoughts then drifted from the “treasures” that handled those tissues to the riches being unearthed and acquired by them- the kind found only in midnight seasons, desert journeys, and valley experiences. A tear crept down my face as I purposefully returned to the task at hand.
It is known that one of the factors in successfully navigating and recovering from trials or traumatic incidents is being able to find meaning and purpose in, from, or through the experience. This makes sense intuitively, and we all know of people who have not only survived the unthinkable but have subsequently thrived either as a result of their adversity or in spite of it. Just as a treasure hunt isn’t finished until the complete cache is located and secured, something valuable will inevitably be unfinished in us if we don’t allow our Father to unveil and unpack the specific riches He has in store for each of us in our dark times and places.
Although Isaiah 45:3 was meant specifically for Cyrus the Great, we know from Scripture and experience that He is doing just that for each of us. He is progressively, deliberately, and patiently dispensing hand-picked, well-timed treasures that only He can provide so that we can know Him more fully, love Him better, experience Him more deeply, and reflect Him more accurately and beautifully. Isn’t that just like our God!?
So, what about you? What treasures of darkness has the Lord gifted you with or is He in the process of granting you presently? Whatever your case may be, be encouraged during this “season for a reason” that the day is coming in which there will be not only no more night (Revelation 22:5) both figuratively and literally, but when we finally get to behold our greatest Treasure of all face to face: Him!
Melissa Smith is the Women’s Enrich Counselor at America’s Keswick. She has the privilege and honor of ministering to the colony men’s wives and girlfriends, the Barbara’s Place women, and some women from the community who God brings to America’s Keswick for help or care. She and Bill, her husband of 18 years, have four adopted children ages 17 to 24. Her fervent desire is to point women to Christ and His sufficiency, provision, and promises.