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The Answer Might be Found in the Darkness
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Chapter: 5.08
(Section 5: Finding the Elusive Will of God)
Copyright © Michael Bronson 1997, 1999, and 2000
BibleHelp.org

Summary
There many times when you are going through some difficult times in your life only to have a new set of problems encompass you. This new set of problems, however, may actually be the answer to your first set of problems.

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Sometimes when we are seeking God’s will, His answers seem to elude us. In times like these, everything seems so confusing. It appears that your direct line to God has been severed. We all have been in situations where we desperately sought God’s guidance and He was nowhere to be found. To make matters worse, sometimes when you are struggling to keep your head above water, God allows another problem to fall on your shoulders. You think to yourself, "I already have more than what I can handle, why is God giving me another problem to work out."

There are two things to keep in mind. First, God has told us in His Word that He will not forsake us. Therefore, those dark hours are not a result of abandonment. The second thing to keep in mind is the answer you are looking for might be found in your new set of problems.

Most everyone has heard of the infamous flight of Apollo 13. Three of our astronauts, on their way to the moon, experienced catastrophic failures in their spaceship. We were very fortunate to have been able to bring them back alive. We came close to losing them several times.

The commander of the spaceship, Jim Lovell, faced death many times before this flight. One of these experiences happened on his return flight from a mission during WWII. The fighter plane he was flying had been severely damaged and his radar and homing signal were not working. To make things worse, the aircraft carrier had its running lights off because of combat conditions. He was lost over the Sea of Japan and could not find his aircraft carrier in the darkness. He had no idea which direction to fly and everything seemed so desperate.

 

As he turned on his map light, all of his lights went dead. This meant he could not read any of his instruments. Since he was unable to see his altimeter, there was the realistic possibility of accidentally crashing into the ocean. His outlook turned very bleak, very dark. Even though there was little chance of him being rescued at sea, Lovell knew that ditching his plane was quickly becoming his only option.

In his darkest hour a strange thing happened. He saw a green trail of algae. When a ship travels through the ocean it churns up a phosphorous trail that can be seen for miles. Lovell said, "It was like a long carpet laid out for me, leading me home."

Since this phosphorous glow is very faint, it can only be seen in total darkness. If Lovell’s lights had not failed, he would have never seen the trail that led him back to the carrier. So, in essence, his new problem was actually the answer to his original problem. Lovell had said, "You never know what events will transpire to get you home." Therefore, don’t despair when God allows more problems to come your way. It may be the answer you have been seeking.

 

Other Chapters in this Section

Home
God's "Will" vs. God's "Work"
The Lord's Leading
The Many Faces of Motivation
Finding the Elusive Will of God
Six Steps in Finding God's Will
Stories of Great Christians
Time Line of Great Christians
God's Invisible Hand
The Answer Might be found in the Darkness
A Death of a Vision
He Only Asks for Obedience
Decoy to the Real Thing
God Working Behind the Scenes




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