The words ‘in the dark room of my suffering‘ grabbed my attention as I listened to Shirley Caesra’s rendition of Peace in the Midst of the Storm on the radio. Immediately, my mind conjured up the literal meaning of the phrase,,..a room where there is total darkness.
In photography, a darkroom is used to process photographic films, make prints and carry out other associated tasks. It is a room that must be made completely dark to allow the processing of light sensitive photographic materials, including film and photographic paper. Darkness is therefore an integral part of the of the photography process. Any light interference during the process will ruin the final product and so great care must be taken to avoid it.
We all go through times on our lives which can be likened to a dark room, the dark room of suffering. As it is in photography, so it is in life. The dark times, the times of suffering, the dark room experiences are painful but necessary elements of life, a necessary evil, you may say. It is in these difficult times that we learn lessons such as patience and tenacity which help to mould our character and help us to be better, stronger and more resilient as we face the inevitable challenges and storms of life.
As we are stretched to what seems to be the point of breaking, we develop the strength and courage to press on, even when it sees we cannot take another step. This is the patience referred to in James 1: 4, which invites us to allow patience to have its perfect work, so that we can be mature and complete lacking nothing. Do not rush the process. Rushing through will rob you of the valuable lessons which can be learnt in no other way. Embrace this time of learning and growing. It is only a season.
Nothing that is good comes easy. There is always a price to pay.
- A cake must go through the entire baking process to be fully baked. No one consumes a half-baked cake.
- Oysters are formed under great pressure during the pearl making process.
- Grapes must be crushed for wine to be produced.
- Gold has to endure the fiery refining process.
- The caterpillar must go through its cocoon stage before its metamorphosis into a beautiful butterfly.
- You too must endure the fire so that you can come out like gold.
What dark room of suffering are you currently experiencing? The death of a loved one? A financial crisis? A broken marriage? A betrayal by close friend or family? A health crisis?
Do not despise this season. Embrace it. Learn from it. Press through. There is better on the other side. Remember that God is using this experience to develop you into the person He wants you to be. Ride out your storm. God is with you. He will cause you to soar. Let Him produce a beautiful picture of you.
Meditate on the words of this song. and be at peace.
