Hope, Treasures in the Darkness, Words of Endurance
Treasures in the Darkness
“I will give you the treasures of darkness,
riches stored in secret places,
so that you may know that I am the Lord,
the God of Israel,
who summons you by name.”
ISAIAH 45:3 (NIV)
On that shocking day in Montreal when my left arm snapped in mid pitch and I tumbled to the ground in a crumpled heap of pain, I felt a surprising sense of peace and inner calm. From one perspective that day was a tragic setback to to the months of intense rehab and training I endured to make my “impossible” comeback to Major League Baseball. Yet strange as it may seem I didn’t feel a sense of loss at that time.
Although I nearly passed out from the pain – I had a sense that God wasn’t finished with me yet. Despite the uncertainty my new injury raised, I knew without a doubt that God was beginning a whole new chapter in my life. I had no explanation as to why – I had no specific knowledge of His purpose – But I knew that something much bigger than baseball was about to unfold.
The path I was destined to walk was no picnic. I never could have imagined the darkness of the valley that path would take me through. For two years I faced periods of pain and crushing disappointment as the tumor returned and my arm refused to heal. During that time Jan suffered from exhaustion and depression. After my arm was amputated I sank into depression as well.
The darkness of those days affected every part of our lives. The pain, sadness, confusion and the seeming endlessness of our struggle overwhelmed us. But just as Isaiah 45:3 promises, Jan and I found treasures in that endless darkness. We found riches that are now priceless in the secret places of our suffering.
Like markers on a trail those treasures gave us hope and the courage to endure. They pointed – indeed led us – to God Himself and helped prepare us for the new chapter of our lives.
Our prayer is that through these upcoming Words of Endurance you will be encouraged to discover your own treasures in your darkness so that you, too, will be drawn closer to God.
“When it is dark enough,
men see the stars.”
RALPH WALDO EMERSON
On the journey with you,
Dave Dravecky
