Key scripture- “I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, I will do this so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, the one who calls you by name” (Isaiah 45:3).

Have you ever been or are you currently in a place in your life that is difficult, dark, and has you full of fear? Do you find yourself thinking, “I have never been in a place this difficult and I am way out of my comfort zone. I am so scared, and I don’t know if I can trust God at this level, because I am having a real hard time accepting and believing His love for me right now.” If that is what you are thinking and that is how you feel right now, God has lead you today to this particular passage because He wants you to know: “I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, I will do this so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, the one who calls you by name” (Isaiah 45:3).

Author, Os Hillman, says that God wants you to understand that what you perceive as dark periods in your life are designed to be treasures from God. They are actually riches stored in secret places. We usually don’t look at hard times from that perspective, because our own worry and fear prevent us from thinking about these times as treasures. But God wants us to know that every difficulty and every trial that we go through has a particular purpose from God’s viewpoint: “…so that you may know that I am the Lord…the one who calls you by name.”

Unless we are cast into times in which we are helpless and we are completely at God’s mercy for breakthroughs in our lives, we will never experience God’s faithfulness in those areas. We will never know how personal He is, or that He can be trusted to meet the deepest needs in our lives, or that His 8000 plus promises in the Bible are all true. God wants each of us to know that we are “summoned by name.” Every hair of our head is numbered. (Luke 12:7). He stores all of our tears in a bottle and has recorded each one in His book. (Psalm 56:8). He knows every activity we are involved in. His love for you and me knows no bounds, and He will take every opportunity to demonstrate this to us.

Has God brought you into a place of darkness? Trust Him today to reveal the hidden treasures that will be found in the darkness, and listen closely, because He is calling you by name right now. God wants you to know that His plan and purpose for you is unstoppable!

Pray this – Our Precious Heavenly Father, it is so comforting to me that You are calling me by name. That You will never forsake or abandon me. I will not focus on the size of my problem, instead I will focus on the size of my God. I will be still and wait for You while You fight my battles for me. I will not live in fear and worry, instead I will keep my eyes on Jesus. I know that You are light and You have already overcome the darkness and conquered each and every one of my problems. My enemies will all retreat because I call to You for help. This I know: God is on my side! I praise You for what You have promised in Your Word. I trust You completely, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me? (Psalm 56:9-11). ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! I will not hang my head in fear, nor will I cower in a corner, instead I will stand firm and tall with my eyes and my heart wide open so that I do not miss seeing and experiencing all of the hidden treasures that You have for me and that You are going to reveal to me. In Jesus’ Name, I pray, Amen.