Whenever God gives a vision to a Christian, it is as if
He puts him in “the shadow of His hand” (Isaiah 49:2). The saint’s duty is to
be still and listen. There is a “darkness” that comes from too much light--that
is the time to listen. The story of Abram and Hagar in Genesis 16 is an
excellent example of listening to so-called good advice during a time of
darkness, rather than waiting for God to send the light. When God gives you a
vision and darkness follows, wait. God will bring the vision He has given you
to reality in your life if you will wait on His timing. Never try to help God
fulfill His word. Abram went through thirteen years of silence, but in those
years all of his self-sufficiency was destroyed. He grew past the point of
relying on his own common sense. Those years of silence were a time of
discipline, not a period of God’s displeasure. There is never any need to
pretend that your life is filled with joy and confidence; just wait upon God
and be grounded in Him (see Isaiah 50:10-11).
Do I trust at all in the flesh? Or have I learned to go
beyond all confidence in myself and other people of God? Do I trust in books
and prayers or other joys in my life? Or have I placed my confidence in God
Himself, not in His blessings? “I am Almighty God . . .”— El-Shaddai, the
All-Powerful God (Genesis 17:1). The reason we are all being disciplined is
that we will know God is real. As soon as God becomes real to us, people pale
by comparison, becoming shadows of reality. Nothing that other saints do or say
can ever upset the one who is built on God.
- Oswald
Chambers, "Vision and
Darkness"
No comments:
Post a Comment