Preschool
Keep my commandments (John 14:15).
Finding Hope in a Dark Time
Memory Verses
Primary
If ye love me, keep my commandments (John 14:15).
Junior
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous (1 John 5:3).
Background Scripture: Job 2-3
Lesson Scripture: Job 2:11-13; 3:1-7; Mark 15:33-34
Introduction
When God finished creating this world, He beheld it in all its beauty and said that it was good. There was peace and perfect harmony, and only after sin entered this world was this tranquility disrupted. Because we live under the curse of mankind’s rebellious pride and disobedience, we are subjected to the onslaughts of our adversary, the devil. The pall of sin and death has passed upon all men and casts its gloom and despair in every corner of time and space. Satan knows our weaknesses and tries to discourage us by bringing us into darkness. God is able to help us in our frailty and uses our mistakes and misguided efforts as stepping stones for further sanctification.
Key Verse
And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the Lord, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel (Isa. 45:3).
Lesson Scripture
Job 2:11 Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.
12 And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.
13 So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.
3:1 After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day.
2 And Job spake, and said,
3 Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived.
4 Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above, neither let the light shine upon it.
5 Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it.
6 As for that night, let darkness seize upon it; let it not be joined unto the days of the year, let it not come into the number of the months.
7 Lo, let that night be solitary, let no joyful voice come therein.
Mark 15:33 And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.
34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
Studying the Lesson
“The book of Job stands alone amongst the books of the Old Testament. It forms a part of the ‘Wisdom’ material, but in form and theme it is unique. No one knows who wrote it, or just when it was written, but the story is set in the days of the patriarchs.” 1 The narrative gives us a unique look at the power of God and his all-seeing eye upon creation, especially mankind. Satan was not allowed to bring more upon Job than what God would permit.
Not many people have experienced such a rapid decline from wealth to poverty as Job did. One messenger followed the other as they came with the news of destruction and loss. The final messenger came with the most dreadful news of all: his own children had all perished in the collapse of the house they were occupying. The Bible says, “In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly” (Job 1:22).
After the second interchange between God and Satan, the devil was allowed to afflict Job’s body with painful sores. His friends found him in this painful plight, and his situation was so terrible they were silenced by his dreadful condition a full seven days. Often the presence of friends or those close to us is all that is needed in times of grief or loss. When words fail us, just having someone near is enough to make a difference.
As Jesus hung on the cross, He took upon himself the sins of all mankind; this was the only way for the plan of salvation to be complete. The darkness and rejection Jesus experienced was like that which a lost soul feels when love’s last light is extinguished, sin has exacted its awful toll, or there seems to be no way left for help. These feelings, though very real, are not true. They will be reality on judgment day but not before. Nevertheless, Jesus is acquainted with the darkness we face, and He is able to feel with fallen mankind in any condition, for there is nowhere He has not been. “For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted” (Heb. 2:18). In weakness, tearfulness, and in overwhelming distress, we can bring our fears and turmoil to the master Healer and listen then for his words of comfort and guidance.
Practical Truths for Today
Although we get a glimpse through the account of Job what may go on behind the scenes, we cannot comprehend the mind of God or understand his ways. If we try and do so, it will only end in frustration. Why He allows the troubles, difficulties, and disappointments that come our way is his business, and ours is to trust Him implicitly like Job did.
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Cor. 10:13). This is a comforting promise, which also teaches us that the way out of a difficult time is the way through. As we go through times of difficulty and darkness, we should always try to remember that God is fully aware of everything we face. He is constantly attentive to our feelings and emotions. God knows how many hairs are on each person’s head, and if He is conscious of even these seemingly trivial matters, surely he is much more interested in the feelings, emotions, and dark thoughts that drag us down and affect our spiritual life.
Jesus is our perfect example. As we walk through the the dark, dismal, and shadowy seasons of life, we need to take a closer look at the suffering and rejection that He faced. The Bible states that He was “in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15). One of the devil’s most effective tools is to distance us from our brothers and sisters and those who can help, telling us they will not understand. If we cannot hear the counsel of those who care about us, it is doubtful we will be able to hear the voice of Jesus. We cannot listen to the devil and his lies very long without being adversely affected.
When experiencing darkness or depression, it is important to share with someone in confidence. This can open a door for healing. In these dark times we need to be willing to be led and follow the advice of those whom God has placed around us.
We live in a time when we are accustomed to instant gratification and quick solutions to our problems. We like to see instant results and quick cures. Many of the issues associated with depression and mental strain develop over a period of time and series of circumstances. It may also take some time for it to be resolved and healed. We must submit to God first of all, as well as our brethren, as we travel the road of healing. Whether it be from a tragic loss, disappointment, or some other challenge, God is able to direct those who help us even if they have not experienced the same difficulty that we are facing.
God has made us all with different temperaments and dispositions. We have grown up in different environments and faced varying situations, some positive and others negative. These factors contribute greatly in forming our personality and the way we view life. People with sanguine personalities may tend to see life in a very optimistic and enthusiastic way, while others are more introspective and tend to look more at the negative aspects of life. No matter what our situation or personality, God calls each of us to give our heart to Him. He floods our soul with his peace as we hear his call and yield our lives to Him. He sanctifies our lives through the Holy Spirit and the daily happenings of life as we walk with Him in obedience. Through this process of sanctification, others are able to observe that our temperaments and natural tendencies become less obtrusive and more refined. Those who were very impulsive become more subdued, and those who were closed and introverted become more open with their thoughts and struggles.
Our mental and emotional structure is complex, and only God understands it completely. Even though God does sanctify us, we each have personality traits that make us who we are. Therefore, we need to realize what our weaknesses and infirmities are and let God help us with them. Apostle Paul had a thorn in the flesh that he begged God to remove, but God’s answer was, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9). Paul was then able to submit to God’s will and allow that infirmity to be an opportunity for God to show his power through him. As we lay down our will, God can make our infirmities into stepping stones instead of hang-ups.
Let the weary-minded take courage that God does not willingly afflict the children of men (Lam. 3:33). God’s ultimate purpose is to prepare us for eternity and to fit us into useful vessels for Him so that we can point others to Christ. It is God’s will that we get a vision of how transient these earthly and tangible things are and that we set our love on things eternal. History and experience have proven well enough that nothing on earth is secure; if we set our hearts on earthly things, sooner or later our foundations will be shaken. Only the riches and hope of heaven are totally secure.
There is no way we can prepare ourselves for every hardship or eventuality that may come our way. God does not want us to try to figure out what is around the corner or dwell on the many fearful unknowns that lie over the horizon. The future is in his hands, which is the only safe place for it to be. As we learn to trust Him completely and give Him full control of our lives, we can be kept by the peace that passes all understanding. The things we fill our minds with are what our thought life is built on. Let us fill our minds with God’s Word and thoughts that are upbuilding. This is the best way to prepare us for those difficult times that may come.
Questions
- How do we develop healthy thought patterns?
- What are the “treasures of darkness” spoken of in the key verse?
- Why does God allow troubles to come to us? Are they always for our sanctification, or are there other reasons?
- What are some effective antidotes for fighting depression?
- 1 Eerdman’s Handbook to the Bible, p. 319
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Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).