“What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops” (Matthew 10:27).

In our everyday experience, darkness and silence are considered profitable for one thing only; a good night’s sleep. Yet in God’s way of doing things, darkness and silence are always for a bigger purpose. Let me explain.

Isn’t it true that when we are lying in bed deep into the night we are better able to hear even the faintest sound? Who hasn’t had their attention focused on an unidentified sound in the middle of the night? That same sound would go completely unnoticed if it were not for the darkness and silence of night.

Now apply that thought to how God works in our lives. Is it not true that God often orchestrates seasons of darkness and silence so that we might hear his voice in a new and fresh way? In other words, God uses darkness and silence to equip us for whatever he intends for us. There is a deep lesson in this for each of us.

Oswald Chambers put it this way. “At times, God puts us through the discipline of darkness to teach us to heed him. Watch where God puts you into darkness, and when you are there, keep your mouth shut. Are you in the dark just now in your circumstances, or in your life with God? Then remain quiet. Darkness is the time to listen; to listen and to heed.”

There is indeed a world of wisdom in Chamber’s words. You see, we are not wired to be silent in the dark. When darkness comes, whatever form it takes, we are prone to make abundant noise as we try to discover our way out of the darkness into the light. The noise we make while fumbling in the dark most likely prevents us from hearing the soft whisper of God’s voice. In other words, our noise drowns out the soft whisper of God. The very best posture when we find ourselves in the dark is to listen carefully for God’s voice. God most likely has a very precious message for us; something that we will share with someone else when others find themselves in the dark.

What does this mean for you and for me? Well, I know that some of us find ourselves in the darkness. Perhaps you’ve tried everything you know to find your way out; you’ve made a lot of noise in doing so. But I wonder if the noise you’ve made has come at the expense of hearing the gentle sigh of God’s voice. If that describes you, I have a simple word of advice; stop making noise and start listening. God speaks to us in the dark so that we might one day “speak in the light” and “proclaim on the housetops” the wonderful things we have learned during the dark and silent times.

“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out… and he went out, not knowing where he was going” (Hebrews 11:8).

Within the space of three weeks, the Rossetti family will have experienced two very distinct blessings. On March 19th, our daughter, Jennifer was married. Shortly thereafter, we will welcome granddaughter number three into our family. God is good!

As I’ve been praying for and thinking deeply on the significance of these events, I couldn’t help but think of both of them as significant “beginnings,” one of a married life and the other of a new life. With that in mind, it came to me that neither the start of a married life nor the start of a new life brings any measure of certainty regarding where and how God may lead. It is with that thought in mind that the passage of scripture cited above speaks to me at a very deep level. Let me share with you what I’ve been thinking.

Without doubt, there are many unexpected things that enter the life of a new marriage. Although newly married couples have some idea of what the future might hold, God may have other ideas which must be factored in. Further, no one but God can know what lies ahead for a baby over the course of her life. In either case, the story of Abraham is instructive for us. You see, his life was going well. He had made plans of his own, but God had other plans for him. God said “go” and he went in faith, with no idea what that meant.

Our daughter and son-in-law have plans, good plans; yet only God knows what unexpected things might enter their lives, causing them to “go out, not knowing where they are going.” Further, there is a sense in which our new granddaughter is something like a blank slate to us, with her life story yet to be written. God may choose to call her to a place she does not know, a place where faith will be what sustains her during the uncertainty of going.

Now, you may wonder how this applies to you and to me. Well, there are times when we don’t know where we are going or what God is doing. Am I right? Have you been asking God where he may be leading in your life? We’ve all knows such times. When I find myself in that situation, I’ve come to see that God may choose not to tell me where he is leading; but instead, he may show me more of who he is. There is a difference, you see. Knowing more of who God is sustains us more than knowing where he is leading or what he is doing.

Are there uncertainties in your life right now? If so, my counsel is simple. Don’t worry as much about where he is leading or what he is doing. Take the time to learn more of who God is. Abraham went out, not knowing where he was going, because he knew the God who was leading.

“You, who call on the Lord, give yourself no rest. . .” (Isaiah 62:6).

In the mid 1800’s, Robert Murray McCheyne said, “If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies. Yet distance makes no difference. He is praying for me.” Can you grasp the simple truth that Jesus Christ is praying for you and me without ceasing? He never rests. He is praying on our behalf in ways that we could never pray for ourselves. I take great comfort in the reality that the Son of God intercedes for my needs.

Yet, how well do we model his example of prayer in our lives on a daily basis? Be honest; for many of us, prayer is our weakest spiritual discipline. Yet it is only through prayer that the power of God is brought to bear in the difficulties of life each of us face.

John Bunyan, the author of Pilgrim’s Progress said: “You can do more than pray after you have prayed, but you cannot do more than pray until you have prayed.” As life brings us unexpected twists and turns, I am learning the simple truth that I am never in a stronger place than when I am on my knees. Prayer can do anything God can do. I, for one, never want to put a limit on what God can do in the midst of the surprises life brings.

Some of us, even as we sit here this morning, are facing things that appear impossible. Yet, Jesus Christ is already praying for these very issues, and he does not give up or grow weary. As I meditate on this truth, it strikes me that the very least we can do is to partner with him in prayer. Getting started is very simple. Simply talk to him and tell him what is on your heart. You will learn that it is by praying that you learn to pray. The process is more important than the product.

Think of the power that flows from a praying church! Let’s accept the challenge and go to the Lord for everything. He will be glorified and we will be blessed as a result. Resist the temptation to solve the issues of life on your own. Remember, Christ is already at work in prayer on your behalf. WOW!

“Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip?”
(John 14:9)

There are few questions that convict me as deeply as the one Jesus asked Philip. Look again at the verse and fill in your name to see if Jesus’ question speaks to you as well.

There’s no doubt that Jesus’ earthly ministry was relatively short, three years to be exact. Further, once Jesus began his public ministry, he and the disciples were seldom alone. They were pressed by crowds of people everywhere they went. In that sense, there was little one-on-one time between Philip and Jesus. So when Jesus asked, “Have I been with you so long and you still do not know me?” he must have had something other than earthly familiarity in mind.

Now as I’ve considered Jesus’ question, a number of thoughts came to me. Let me share them with you. The first is that familiarity with Jesus is not necessarily based on the length of the relationship. Unlike human relationships that deepen only with time, closeness to Jesus is not as dependent upon time. In that sense, I think God blesses us richly when our goal is to become more intimate with Jesus even when we have not known him for a lengthy period of time. I think it brings joy to Jesus when his children take the steps necessary to become more intimate with him. I’ve come to see that the more intimate we become with Jesus, the greater the fruit he brings to bear in our lives. Since he is the vine and we are the branches, intimacy with Christ is mandatory for spiritual fruit to occur.

The second thought that struck me is that as we become more intimate with Jesus, the less we will be prominent, and the more Jesus will be prominent. In other words, as our intimacy with Jesus deepens, those around us will sense Christ as opposed to sensing us. Have you ever interacted with a Christian in whose presence you sense Christ above their presence? I have, and it is a sweet thing indeed.

Third, intimacy with Jesus brings us a pleasant, agreeable and satisfying confidence, even in the midst of life’s most challenging events. I trust you’ve known the beauty that a deep relationship with a friend brings during troubling times. Deep intimacy with Jesus brings us an even deeper measure of comfort and confidence.

Friends, it doesn’t matter how long you have been a Christian; knowing Jesus should always be a priority. After 41 years of being a Christian, there is a sense in which I’m still getting to know him. I don’t want to stop getting to know Jesus. How about you?

“Peter said to him, ‘Lord, why can I not follow you now?’” (John 13:37a)

One of the most frequent conversations I have with you surrounds your desire to determine God’s will for your life. The specific issues vary, but generally include decisions about changing jobs, moving, entering into relationships, determining if God is calling you into ministry, what to do about a particular problem you are facing, or family decisions of one sort or another. We can all identify with what it’s like when we have a tough decision to make, seeking God’s will as we consider our options.

In the passage of scripture cited above, the Apostle Peter wanted to do something. He wanted to follow Jesus. What’s wrong with that? Yet just prior to Peter’s statement, Jesus told him that he could not follow him, that he would follow him “afterward.” As I considered Jesus’ words to Peter, it struck me that there are times when we are unable to understand why we cannot do what we want to do. There are times when God introduces into our lives what Oswald Chambers called the “blank space.” What I’ve come to learn in my own life is that when God introduces the “blank space,” the worst thing for me to do is to fill it. The “blank space” is not a time to act, but rather a time to wait.

In that light, would you agree that one of the hardest lessons for us to learn is that God engineers our blank spaces? Blank spaces are for a purpose; perhaps to teach us something, to humble us or to allow God to work in the unseen so that when the time is right, everything fits together for our good.

Here now is the tough part for us to embrace. We make a mistake when we run ahead of God’s guidance during the blank spaces. In other words, whenever there is doubt, the best thing for us to do is to wait.

A closer look at the text of John 13 suggests that Peter’s statement, “Why can I not follow you?” was predicated on emotions instead of certainty. The basic principle to consider is this; never act on what you feel to be God’s will based on impulse or emotions. If you do, the risk is high for making a mistake that may take years to fix. When it is a question of the providential will of God, the best thing we can do is to wait for God to act. We must never fill in the “blank spaces” based on our own effort.

I wonder how many of us reading these words are presently experiencing the “blank space.” If that describes you, no matter the decision you need to make, my counsel to you is simple. Whenever there is doubt, wait. God always makes his will for us clear. He is not a God of confusion, but rather, leads his children in the good way for his glory and our good. May these thoughts bring confidence to you when God says to you, “Not now; wait.”