The Discipline of Darkness

“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.