Darkness fell more quickly than we expected.
My husband and I were sitting in a deer stand in the middle of the woods. The October air was perfect, and we’d spent a pleasant three hours listening to scampering squirrels, watching for signs of deer, and drinking in the beauty of autumn leaves.
Just as dusk began to settle in, my husband saw a set of horns move across a distant ledge. So, we waited in the stand to see if the buck would cross our path.
In no time at all, darkness fell. So, we gave up our search and crept quietly down the ladder of the tree stand.
I was already getting a little nervous. We’d parked a good distance from the deer stand, and in the growing darkness I couldn’t even tell which direction to take.
At first my husband took my hand and led me down a path of thick, rustling leaves.
Suddenly a strange howling sound broke the quiet and made the hair stand up on the back of my neck. We came to a dead stop.
My husband mouthed the word.
“Coyote.”
As he silently loaded his gun, I froze. It was dark. I didn’t know how far our vehicle was. And right then and there, I vowed to never sit in a deer stand until dusk again. Ever.
I didn’t know whether to scream or cry. Before I could decide, my husband handed me a flashlight. He motioned for me to follow him and shine the light on the path ahead of me.
My husband was in front of me, but he didn’t need a flashlight. He knew the way. He’d been here before, and he knew this part of the woods like the back of his hand.
At the sight of our vehicle I breathed a huge sigh of relief.
As we drove back to our camp with the headlights on, I couldn’t help but marvel. The same woods we’d enjoyed for hours in the daylight had grown downright spooky in the dark.
GETTING THROUGH HARD TIMES CAN FEEL SCARY
Our circumstances may be traumatizing, or they may border on trivial.
Either way, the unfamiliarity and uncertainty of a hard season can make us feel lost, afraid, or even hopeless.
- When a young mom begins to navigate life with a new baby, the uncertainty can create a hard season. How do you make it all work? Can you be the mom you want to be?
- A new move or a new job can bring a hard season of uncertainty or second-guessing. Will you like it? Was it the right decision? How well will you and the people you love adjust?
- Far more devastating is getting through hard times of loss. When we lose a loved one, there’s heartwrenching grief and the uncertainty of how to move on. When the health of a spouse, parent or child changes, decisions must be made and fears must be faced. All before finding a new normal.
- Sometimes there’s a hard season of feeling friend-less. Perhaps someone moved or proved to be less than a good friend. Or maybe you decide to seek out a more positive or godly circle of influence. Regardless, the transition of finding new friends can feel lonely and long.
- Even middle age can be a hard season. As the second half of life begins to look shorter than the first half, there’s a deeper urgency to live a life that really matters. To find new purpose. To leave a lasting legacy. And we may wonder if it’s too late.
When God called Abraham to endure a hard season, He didn’t tell him exactly what his life would look like. Instead, He simply told him to leave the only life he’d known and “go to the land I will show you” (Genesis 12:1-2, HCSB).
In other words, not only was God going with Abraham, but He already knew exactly where Abraham was headed.
GETTING THROUGH HARD TIMES CAN BE A TIME OF TEMPTATION
The Lord said to Abram: Go out from your land, your relatives, and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.
So, Abraham went.
But it took a long time and perhaps 1000 miles to get to where God was taking him. At first he traveled in stages, following and trusting God as the Lord led him.
But suddenly life didn’t look like Abraham expected.
There was at that time a terrible famine in the land: and so Abram went on down to Egypt to live.
Genesis 12:10
There was a famine, and Abraham decided to take the situation into his own hands. Instead of following and trusting God, he took charge and ended up making a mess of things.
He went where God didn’t send him.
And that’s exactly how I get myself into trouble.
When a season of life looks or feels different than I think I should, I panic.
When I feel insecure.
Fearful.
Vulnerable.
Sad.
Inadequate.
Disappointed.
Doubtful.
Like Abraham, while getting through hard times, I’m tempted to shift into self-protection mode and take my situation into my own hands.
GOD IS WITH US IN HARD TIMES
In fact, God is in front of me. He knows the way.
He doesn’t need a flashlight, but He offers me one.
Your Word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.
When Abraham came to his senses, he turned back to God. He went back to the very place he’d been before he struck out on his own, and he “called on the name of the Yahweh, the Everlasting God” (Genesis 21:33, HCSB).
That’s what we need to do.
At the first moment we feel darkness settle in because we feel we can’t find our way, we need to remember that God has not left us.
THE BLESSING OF GETTING THROUGH HARD TIMES
Open your Bible and you’ll find Him in the pages of scripture.
God is never aimless. He always calls us to Himself. And sometimes He’ll use a hard season-even a rebellious season – to lead us to a more intimate place with Him.
So, when life feels uncertain, know this: God wants to bless you with His presence. And if you’re willing to hold onto Him for dear life, in the end the people around you will see clearly that God is faithful. In time, as they see in you the peace, joy, and assurance God gives, not only will you be blessed, but your life will become a blessing to them.
So, hang onto Jesus. There’s a new season right around the bend.
Thank you. Good analogy and wonderful reminder.
Love you!