It’s been said it’s darkest just before dawn. And this phrase captures a symbolic truth that often our journey includes our most difficult test right before our breakthrough or victory. As such, it becomes a reminder not to lose heart.
To be sure, we can see this in the life of Christ. While he submitted to the humility of being born in a manger and the opposition during his public ministry, it’s in Gethsemane and on the cross that he’s faced with his greatest depths of anguish – praying even for this cup of suffering to be removed from him. Yet though his death appeared like a total defeat, it became the ultimate victory.
Of course, we tend to read his story backwards and miss how dark the period was between his death and resurrection. And this can cause us to miss the intensity of the pattern and the sacrifice required of us when it plays out in our own stories.
This might be losing our job or facing bankruptcy, hard and difficult conversations with our wife, or times of feeling spiritually dry and questioning our faith. It might also be struggles with infertility, an unwanted divorce, or a calling that can never seem to get off the ground. Whatever it looks like, it’s easier to see how God has brought others through these moments. And one day we’ll look back and see how God has worked everything together in our story as well. But it’s hard in this moment to sit in the darkness – feeling the deep anguish of our souls and facing what seems like defeat despite all our efforts.
Remembering dawn is on the way is not to minimize our suffering in these dark places, but to anchor us in hope through it. God is still at work in our lives through the very same power that raised Christ from the dead.
In the end, it’s tempting to give up when things are in their darkest moment. But, as with Christ, this is often our turning point just before dawn. Hang on and don’t lose heart.
