Grace for the Dark Times (when your hut is on fire)

Have you ever believed what they say about it being darkest just before the dawn? That may be true, but it’s often a much longer night than you really want.  Our Christian faith tells us that we’ve got to hold on.  We’ve got to hope.  That is what this Easter weekend is all about. Friday was the darkest time ever in the world, but that night wouldn’t last forever.  I love what Tony Campolo brought out in one sermon, “It’s Friday, but Sunday’s coming.”
 
That is the kind of hope we need for the dark times of our lives.  And consider this, without the dark times, we would never be as inclined to turn to God. Listen to what Hebrews says in Hebrews 4:14-16,

14Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens,[a] Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. 16Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

The Amplified Bible puts verse 16 like this, “…that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].

The dark times in our lives can summon God in a special way.  I think of David crying out in the Psalms, “Incline Your ear to me.” Ps. 86 (1-4, 13-17)…

1 Hear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.
2 Guard my life, for I am devoted to you. You are my God; save your servant who trusts in you.
3 Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I call to you all day long.
4 Bring joy to your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
…
13 For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me from the depths of the grave.
14 The arrogant are attacking me, O God; a band of ruthless men seeks my life—men without regard for you.
15 But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.
16 Turn to me and have mercy on me; grant your strength to your servant and save the son of your maidservant.
17 Give me a sign of your goodness, that my enemies may see it and be put to shame, for you, O LORD, have helped me and comforted me.

I got an interesting email this week that tells this excellent story of God’s grace for our dark times…
 
When your hut’s on fire
The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him. Every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming.
Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions. One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, with smoke rolling up to the sky. He felt the worst had happened, and everything was lost. He was stunned with disbelief, grief, and anger. He cried out, “God! How could you do this to me?”
Early the next day, he was awakened by the sound of a ship approaching the island! It had come to rescue him! “How did you know I was here?” asked the weary man of his rescuers. “We saw your smoke signal,” they replied.

The Moral of This Story:
It’s easy to get discouraged when things are going bad, but we shouldn’t lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of our pain and suffering. Remember that the next time your little hut seems to be burning to the ground. It just may be a smoke signal that summons the Grace of God.
 
This easily demonstrates that we can’t just base what we think and feel on how dark it looks around us.  We must hope in God, keep the faith.  Jesus dawned Sunday morning after the world’s darkest night!