“I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that I, the LORD, who call you by your name, am the God of Israel.” Isaiah 45:3
“But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
Matthew 7:4
Some seasons in life are dark and narrow but filled with the treasure of God. It’s hard to imagine! I’m particularly considering war-torn Ukraine now. I have dear friends that are living through this living hell in real time day after day, and others that have escaped with just their lives and are rebuilding in different countries. It’s heartrending, yet in this narrow place, God desires to fill hearts with the intimate secrets of His eternal love and comfort. Miraculously, He has the power to enlarge hearts in the midnight hour of terror and confinement.
The treasures of darkness are revelations about his unfailing love and personal hope for the future. People need hope to go on—even on the smallest level.
This was my prayer today that amidst the overwhelming darkness and evil erupting upon the earth that God would give the suffering eyes to imagine hope for tomorrow and hope for a future.
The deepest treasure of darkness is that there is life beyond this for those that have believed on the name of Jesus—for those that have confessed sin and received God’s blood atonement through Jesus’s death on the cross. Heaven is waiting. It is humankind’s hope of glory. We purify ourselves with this hope.
Nothing can separate us from God’s love.
31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?32 Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?33 Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. 34 Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.
35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:31-39
I pray this scripture passage for those sitting in the deep darkness of irrevocable devastation. It is the richest treasure that spans the gulf of pain and loss in this finite life.
Bonnie Saul Wilks 
Bonnie,
This was God’s word to me this morning as I feel overwhelmed preparing to handicap the house for Bill to come home. I’m not even sure he will be able to be here but I must have faith and try. This helped me realize that there are so many with (issues~problems) far greater than what we are in. It’s an honor to pray for the Saints that are moving forward in FAITH despite all that is happening around them. I pray for Val and Tatiana to be safe and win souls till Jesus comes! Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Emily, I am so happy that this was a blessing to you. You and Bill are in our prayers in this transition. I know that it must be very difficult. May the love of God wrap you in his arms and pull you close and give you wisdom.
your insights and perspective are from His deep love in you. Thank you.
Thank you!