When I was in college back in the eighties, we had photography class that taught us how to take great pictures. We took photos under broad daylight pointing at various subjects from portraits to landscapes, and from still life to moving objects. There were also subjects taken at night like city lights and moving lights. The images, however, were all captured in a roll of film hidden inside my camera. During those days, the technology has not yet evolved to the digital age. Therefore, digital computer images were not yet in existence. And don’t try to count back and calculate my age either!
To develop photographs, the film must be taken into a darkroom. Only after the chemicals have done their work in the dark is it safe to expose the negatives to light and produce the final prints. The light, which would have destroyed the film, now brings out the beauty within the film.
In the same way, God takes us through “darkroom” experiences to develop our spiritual life. Many factors contribute to our developing process and are considered the chemicals that work on us while in the darkroom. Trials, disappointments, frustrations, and sorrow prepare us in the process. As we pass through all these, the image of Christ is produced in us. Only then we are ready to be displayed in the light.
Whenever we go through our dark tunnels of despair and frustration, we often blame people or circumstances. Although they may be the secondary causes, we need to realize that the hand of the heavenly Father momentarily shades the light from our pathway. He graciously takes us through such experiences because He wants to provide us the benefits of darkness; the way photographs are developed in the darkroom. So when it comes to life’s trials and frustrations, do you consider yourself inside God’s darkroom? If so, what would your response be? There are incidents when we question God’s presence or motive at times of adversity. If there is really a God, why am I suffering like this? Why does He allow bad things happen to such good people? For whatever reason, His ways are not our ways. And there is no doubt whatever He is doing; rest assured it is always to our best advantage. The only difference is the angle of how we look at it. After spending some time in the dark, then you will learn to appreciate the light even more.
To develop photographs, the film must be taken into a darkroom. Only after the chemicals have done their work in the dark is it safe to expose the negatives to light and produce the final prints. The light, which would have destroyed the film, now brings out the beauty within the film.
In the same way, God takes us through “darkroom” experiences to develop our spiritual life. Many factors contribute to our developing process and are considered the chemicals that work on us while in the darkroom. Trials, disappointments, frustrations, and sorrow prepare us in the process. As we pass through all these, the image of Christ is produced in us. Only then we are ready to be displayed in the light.
Whenever we go through our dark tunnels of despair and frustration, we often blame people or circumstances. Although they may be the secondary causes, we need to realize that the hand of the heavenly Father momentarily shades the light from our pathway. He graciously takes us through such experiences because He wants to provide us the benefits of darkness; the way photographs are developed in the darkroom. So when it comes to life’s trials and frustrations, do you consider yourself inside God’s darkroom? If so, what would your response be? There are incidents when we question God’s presence or motive at times of adversity. If there is really a God, why am I suffering like this? Why does He allow bad things happen to such good people? For whatever reason, His ways are not our ways. And there is no doubt whatever He is doing; rest assured it is always to our best advantage. The only difference is the angle of how we look at it. After spending some time in the dark, then you will learn to appreciate the light even more.
Do not despair for God is developing the beauty of Christlikeness within you for display in His art gallery of eternity. Do not seek to get back into the light too soon. “The Lord is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.” Lamentations 3: 25-26 (KJV). You must wait for His perfect timing or you’ll spoil the imprint of His love on the film of your life!
Bible passage to read: Lamentations 3:1-6; 22-26
“GOD TAKES US INTO HIS DARKROOM
TO DEVELOP US INTO HIS LIKENESS”
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My mother left me when I was nine. At that time, I felt it was so unfair for me and my family. However, I grew up all by myself and learned everything to survive. As time goes by, I do go very independent. Then I came to realise if my mother is still here, maybe I wouldn't be the same. So there is actually no bad or good outcome indeed. It just depends on how we live through them. Just like if you are doing too good to your kids, you may just spoil them and make them lose their instinct to live their own life.
ReplyDeleteMay we always see God's perspective in every angle of our lives. Your testimony is truly an inspiration that brings hope in what we thought, a hopeless situation. God Bless.
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