When Dark Times Lead To Light

Or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10) 
 
We usually don’t admit it in the moment, but when we take inventory of our lives, oftentimes it is the things we thought we’d never survive that make us who we are today. The Apostle Paul said it was his difficulties that actually helped in the furtherance of the Gospel. He would later write all things work together for the good of them that love the Lord and who are called according to His purpose.  
 
Paul couldn’t see it at the time, that his pain was necessary for his ultimate purpose and mission; that his struggles made him stronger; that his trials made him better; that his valleys positioned him for victory. But now we can see by reading the story of his life in Scripture that God even used the struggles Paul faced for his good, as well as for the good of all the people he would preach and minister to.  
 
Maybe you’re walking through life today with a broken spirit, bitter because of the pain of the past. But let me encourage you to not become bitter, resolve to become better. Don’t let a letdown get you down. Allow it to become motivation for your elevation. Don’t let a breakup hinder you. You’ll be better after this. No matter what happened in your yesterday, your tomorrow will be greater if you surrender to the Lord and let Him use even the darkest points in your life to be a light to those around you.