Some days just feel rubbish. Our friends are all busy doing other things, school is hard, family life is boring, we’ve got sick again, etc. We all go through ‘dark’ times where we’re so fed up, we wonder, What’s the point?

A friend of mine was feeling like this. After spending some time with God, she said to me: “I think God wants us to remember on the good days what we’re learning in the dark days.”

Paul wrote this same thing to the Corinthian church (2 COR. 1) after talking about the terrible things he and his team went through in Asia. Paul wanted the Corinthians to understand that God can use even our darkest moments. We are comforted, he says, so we may learn how to comfort others (V.4). Paul and his team were learning things from God during the tough times that they could then use to comfort and help the Corinthians when they faced the same kind of problems. And God does that for us as well, if we’re willing to listen. He will use our rubbish days to teach us about Himself, His love and His comfort. And then we can use what we’ve learned to help out others in their dark days.

Are you struggling today? Be encouraged by Paul’s words. Trust that God is busy right now leading you and shaping you so that you can better care for His people. Spend some time with Him today and focus on Him in the darkness. 

By: Regie Keller

To Pray About . . .

Father, lift my eyes in the hard times to You. Help me to remember the things I learn in the bad days so I can share them with others in their times of need.