Vision and Darkness: Trusting in the Waiting
Inspired by Oswald Chambers' "My Utmost for His Highest"
"An horror of great darkness fell upon him."
— Genesis 15:12
God often grants His children a vision, a glimpse of His plans and purposes, only for that vision to be followed by a season of darkness. In these moments, it may seem like the light has disappeared, leaving us to navigate through uncertainty. Yet, as Oswald Chambers insightfully observes, this darkness isn’t a punishment but a preparation. It’s a sacred space where self-sufficiency is stripped away, and we learn to lean entirely on God.
Consider a seed planted deep in the soil. It lies hidden in the darkness, seemingly forgotten, but within that shadowy place, transformation occurs. The seed isn’t lifeless—it’s preparing to sprout, to reach for the light. So too are we in seasons of waiting. God’s hand covers us, not to block the light but to shield us as He shapes us according to His vision.
Abraham knew this intimately. After receiving God’s promise, he endured thirteen years of silence, years when the temptation to take matters into his own hands must have been overwhelming. Yet God wasn’t absent; He was building Abraham’s trust, teaching him that His timing is perfect and His plans are unstoppable.
The question we must ask ourselves is this: Is our confidence truly in God, or have we unknowingly placed it in our own abilities, in others, or even in the blessings we’ve received? True faith rests in El-Shaddai, the Almighty God, who needs no assistance to fulfill His promises.
Living in the Light of Trust
Wait in the Darkness: When the vision seems distant and darkness envelops, resist the urge to act on human wisdom. God is at work even when we cannot see.
Release Self-Sufficiency: Like Abraham, allow God to dismantle your reliance on anything but Him.
Rest in God’s Reality: When we see God for who He truly is, the noise of the world fades, and we find peace in His presence.
A Prayer of Trust
Father,
We rest in the truth that You are the Almighty God, sufficient in all things and faithful in every promise. Thank You for the seasons of waiting and for the work You do in the hidden places of our hearts. We trust Your perfect timing and yield our lives to Your shaping hands. You are real, unchanging, and fully trustworthy. We walk forward in quiet confidence, knowing You are always with us. In Christ’s name, Amen.
Final Thought
Like a seed in the soil, we are hidden in His hand, where He nurtures and transforms us. The darkness is not the absence of His presence but the space where trust and faith grow. Rest in Him, and let His vision unfold in His time.