Christian Foundations

June 7, 2007

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

--James 1:2-4

One of the great preachers of all time was a man by the name of Charles Spurgeon. Spurgeon was a British preacher in the late 19^th century who led a church in London that was reputed to be the largest church in the world during its day.

Spurgeon was such a powerful preacher. Yet by his own admission, he battled a deep, dark depression his entire life.

He even wrote a chapter called “The Minister and His Faithing Fits” in his book, Lectures to My Students. In this chapter, Spurgeon spoke about how a servant of God should respond to dark days in life.

From Spurgeon’s point of view, he knew that whenever he experienced a time of darkness or depression, God was preparing him for a greater season of service than he had ever known before. He knew that God used depression in his life like a “John the Baptist”…as a forerunner of greater things to come.

Maybe today, you need to see your dark hour…your dark day…as a “John the Baptist.”

Perhaps this dark hole in your life is just a forerunner of something better to come as you look to God and listen to Him in spite of how you may be feeling on the inside! Give your dark hour to God…wait patiently on Him…and see what He can do!

Maybe you need to see your dark hour As a forerunner of good things to come.