How to Cling to Enduring Faith Especially While It’s Dark

by Nan Jones

I tugged on my robe, snuggling beneath its warmth on a cold January day. Grabbing my Bible and a warm cup of coffee, I settled on the couch near the window. From there I can watch as the earth wakes from its slumber, inspiring me to do the same–inspiring me to cling to enduring faith when life is hard.

I flipped to the book of John, longing for the reminder of the Lord’s great victory over sin and death, yearning for the remembrance of how there had to be a crucifixion before there could be a resurrection–how victory most certainly will come from the fires of trial, but enduring faith is required. We must learn to see our difficult places through the lens of eternity.

How Does Enduring Faith Look?

John 20:1 reads, “Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.”

While. It. Was. Still. Dark.

Mary’s world had turned upside down. Jesus- the One in whom she had believed–was dead. How could it be? She had trusted Him. She had believed all that He had told her and now He was dead.

Most of us are familiar with this passage of Scripture, but, like me, have you ever noticed when Mary sought the Lord? She came to Him “while it was still dark.”

And in the darkness, Mary discovered Jesus was alive.

I’m learning to seek the Lord even while it’s dark. The dark clouds of difficulty shroud my life right now as I care for my husband who suffers from frontotemporal dementia. I don’t know what my future holds. Fear and anxiety lurk around every bend in the road. My thoughts torment me with what-ifs.

But still, I seek Him. Even while it’s still dark . . . especially while it’s dark.

It seems as if the dark places are where we find the most remarkable miracles. In the dark places, the Lord rolls away the stone so we can behold our miracle–the miracle of His resurrection power in our difficult places. His restoration. His provision. His tender care.

But we must seek Him to find Him.

Enduring Faith Seeks Hard after the Lord, Especially When It’s Dark

We must remain loyal to Him even when it’s dark because that’s what faith is all about. Faith is the evidence of things not seen. Faith is the stone rolled away to reveal the trustworthiness of God.

Faith is knowing that the darkness I’m in is the shadow of His Presence because He loves me and draws near to those who are crushed in spirit.

His shadow. A safe haven of love.

Yes, Lord, I will seek You while it’s still dark.

Selah