God Uses the Dark Times for Good

by Rusty Stowe - Senior Adult Pastor

We have many friends and family members who are experiencing what they would refer to as “dark times”. Events like flood waters, wildfires, cancer, undetermined sickness, etc. We must remember that none of us are exempt from suffering, discouragement, or trauma. We must remember that Jesus experienced these things in His life, so we might need to experience them in our lives for God to develop the character of Christ in us.

This does not mean that God causes tragedies! We know that God is good, and He will not cause evil or do evil. But we also know that God uses the dark times for good. He can use our current troubles to teach us to trust Him, show us how to help others and to draw us closer to other believers.

The Word of God says, “We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.”  (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)

So, what do we do when we are going through difficult times? Use the three R’s - REFUSE to be discouraged. REMEMBER God is with you through the good times as well as the bad. RELY on God’s protection and guidance when you must make difficult decisions. God’s light shines even in the darkest shadows.

Rusty