Author Darlene J. Conard

… “I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.”   Isaiah 45:3 KJV

Don’t let this chapter turn you off because of the title. Please give me your full attention; I’ll explain.

“In moments of hardship and struggle, when the world seems enveloped in darkness, we have the opportunity to uncover the priceless treasures of God. Although wisdom may seem intangible and out of reach, it can be discovered through prayer and seeking guidance in God’s Word.

“I will give, who- God. The receiver is us. God affirms that the treasures of darkness, hidden riches, of- what kind of places- secret? We may know that He who called us by name will know He is Israel’s God. (Isaiah 45:2) God distinctly declares that these will be our possession if we don’t faint. When I say faint, I mean becoming tired, weary, and letting faith go.”

This verse challenges our understanding by showing that God admits to creating evil despite the common association of darkness with Satan. Isaiah 45:7 (KJV) states, “I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.” God has chosen darkness as His secret place.

My understanding of God has been shaped by a fiery trial I experienced during the darkest times of my life. In these moments, I discovered profound truths about myself, a testament to the transformative power of God’s presence in our darkest hours.

… “when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.” (Genesis 15:12 KJV) Abraham experienced darkness, but in the horrifying darkness, God spoke to him, making a promise, saying, “Know for sure that your descendants will be strangers [living temporarily] in a land (Egypt) that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years.  But on that nation whom your descendants will serve, I will bring judgment, and afterward, they will come out [of that land] with great possessions.  As for you, you shall [die and] go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried at a good old age. Then in the fourth generation, your descendants shall return here [to Canaan, the land of promise], for the wickedness and guilt of the Amorites is not yet complete (finished).” It goes on to say, “When the sun had gone down, and a [deep] darkness had come, there appeared a smoking brazier and a flaming torch which passed between the [divided] pieces [of the animals].  On the same day, the LORD made a covenant (promise, pledge) with Abram, saying, “To your descendants, I have given this land, From the river of Egypt to the great river Euphrates– [the land of] the Kenites and the Kenizzites and the Kadmonites and the Hittites and the Perizzites and the Rephaim, the Amorites and the Canaanites and the Girgashites and the Jebusites.” (Genesis 15:13- 21 AMP)

Abraham had to fight to protect his sacrifice for a promise beyond the darkness.

This verse gives the impression that there’s a contradiction. Let’s break it down. Children love to display their creations. “Look, I made this with my hands.” That project created from their little minds, hands, and strength will produce reactions. “Honey, that’s wonderful! Wow, you are so creative!” It’s displayed on the refrigerator. Now, everyone who passes by will see it. God produces something: light. Light affects the work of darkness. I make peace. I guarantee that stability made in one area will stir chaos in another. Prayer and praise will stir evil. [DC1] God is acknowledging His actions and their results.

Without dark places in our lives, we wouldn’t experience His glory. It’s an altercation: get out of my way so God can make me new. I had the concept at the beginning of my conversion, “I don’t have much to change.” I was so wrong! Now I say, “God, I didn’t realize how many rough edges I have!” We are constantly changing when we pray. I don’t want to remain the same! I yearn to embody the Darlene God sees, aspiring to far more than mere surface-level Christianity. I hunger for a profound understanding of the depths of God and His teachings. … “In his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.” 1 Timothy 6:16 KJV

Moses desperately wanted to see the face of God. That request couldn’t be fulfilled. “Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.” (Exodus 33:20). One thing he could do. God, the Great I Am, took Moses directly to His secret place. Nowhere other than the cleft of the rock. He took the hands He used to create you and me to cover Moses. His writing with names engraved upon it was removed just so that he could catch a glimpse of God’s back parts. Now, here is the revelation. We, more often than not, believe it’s the darkness of the enemy. Remember that God blocked Moses’ view with His hand. The purpose of a blindfold is to stop visibility. The individual is left in the dark about what will be presented. God blindfolded Moses to position Himself for Moses’ sight. God blocks our view with His hand so we may experience His glory more significantly.  (Exodus 33:18-34:9) In one chapter, I explained my fear of nightfall approaching. Satan will use whatever he can to paralyze us with fear. It is a necessity to seek God at all costs.      [DC2] 

Diamonds are not created from coal but from the earth’s carbon world. The diamond, the stability zone, is in the earth’s mantle, most pressurized with heat. When volcanoes erupt, diamonds are embedded in the earth’s core chunks. The weight of the pressure under heat makes this a valuable gem. The mantle is very significant, and the darkness is substantial.

The darkness holds significance for this reason: When a child is in the mother’s womb, they are shielded from light. A seed is deeply planted into the ground, away from sunlight. A secret is concealed in the dark, although God sees all. An unborn child is a tiny soul developing and receiving nourishment from the mother for a season. The ground provides nourishment for the seed while it incubates in darkness. As it lies buried, it begins to germinate. The root then breaks out of the seed coat, signaling the end of the dormancy stage.

“God knows when we need to incubate. Our trials are not meant to destroy us. The cord of grace will transfer strength to that dark place. In time, we will emerge renewed, stronger, wiser, and ready for where we are going.”

I have often said, “This trial will destroy me. It is too painful and unbearable.

God will use discomfort to lure us out of our comfort zones. We must pray and praise our way out.

I enjoy the sunlight! Rain, rain, rain, I dreaded hearing this in the forecast! Darkness, gloom, and sleepiness, I don’t want it! God taught me something that completely changed my view of rainy days. Without the cloudy days, how is it possible to see the light more excellently? Moses had a life-changing experience due to a season of darkness. We encounter being in a crowd of people, but loneliness lingers. That is a sign that God is calling us to a secret place with Him. Communion with the Lord reveals who and where we are in life.  I have experienced an emptiness even with people I love. Now, I understand that it is a sign that God is drawing me into my prayer closet. The beauty of the pearl comes from pressure inside the shell of the clam. Darkness is thought of only as a place for evil. Psalm 23 verse 4 says, “Yeah, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff shall comfort me.” Evil lurks to attack our fragile state. His words are a comfort, and His staff pulls us from the snares of danger.

During times of darkness and uncertainty, God continuously transforms us, preparing us for the next phase of our lives. Just like how a seed grows in the darkness of the soil before sprouting into a beautiful plant, we, too, undergo a process of incubation and growth. With each cycle, we are called to surrender to God’s strength, gain wisdom, and strive to embody the qualities of Jesus in our thoughts, words, and actions. This transformation journey requires us to shed elements of our old selves and embrace a more Christ-like existence marked by compassion, love, and humility.

God continuously recreates us for the next phase of our lives while we are incubating in darkness. We must gain strength and wisdom each time and become less of ourselves and more like Jesus.

Exodus 33:11 amplifies the strong bond between God and Moses. Inside the Tent of Meeting, the LORD speaks to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. (NLT) James 2:23 also specifics, …  “Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.” (KJV)

Even during our darkest moments, God will unveil our true identity in Him.

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Feel free to forward it to anyone you wish.  My mission is to encourage everyone to follow our Lord Jesus Christ with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. ©Darlene J. Conard Vision Ministries 2024. Darlene is also affiliated with Glory Carrier Ministers worldwide. This may not be republished or used without the author’s written consent. The photograph is AI-generated.

 

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