There are certain edible fungi called truffles that are used in haute cuisine. Master chefs consider it a high quality ingredient in the meticulous preparation of their food. These culinary delights are to be found hidden underneath moulding forest floors, usually near tree roots. Growing in the dark in secret, they develop and grow into a hidden treasure until they are sometimes found and harvested by man or frugivore. Chefs would deem these growing truffles to be a hidden joy.
In like manner the joy of the Lord is waiting to be discovered in what we consider to be our adverse circumstances. Jesus is our hidden treasure waiting for us to come to Him when our circumstances darken our day in whatever measure. Why oh why do we foolishly resist His pressure, wallow in self pity, “kick against the pricks”, wrestling with our emotions instead of running into Him? Jesus ever beckons: “Come unto Me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest”, Matthew 11:28.
Once we have entered into our salvation, that is secured for eternity, but that is only the beginning of our spiritual journey through life as we learn sensitivity to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and incrementally grow towards maturity. Let us not grow weary and stagnate in our wildernesses, murmuring and complaining when the Lord Jesus has made a way for us to walk through our trials with Him towards the Promised Land of fullness. We excuse our moods with a thousand reasons instead of embracing the God of our circumstances. In the economy of God there is no waste and He will use every trial to reveal His hidden treasures, if only we will come to Him.
The old song “Standing somewhere in the shadows you’ll find Jesus, He’s a friend who always cares and understands…..” declares a profound truth, not a myth or fleeting sentiment. Let us not be of the company who Jesus wept over when He declared: “Oh Jerusalem….how often would I have gathered you as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and you would not! Behold your house is left unto you desolate”, Matthew 23: 37-38. When we refuse to push into God in our dark times, then we, too, are desolate, lost without Him. Jesus is our hidden joy to be discovered in every trial. Nehemiah 8:10 “The joy of the Lord is your strength” This is not some frilly emotion but a supernatural provision enabling us to walk through every day in resurrection provision, on resurrection ground, our birthright in Christ. My circumstances may be dire, hard, or even tragic, but the Lord has promised His presence will go with us, be available to us to enable us to walk through as He takes our hand. Here we discover the joy of His presence, hiding in Him in the secret place of His stability, strength and refuge. Here He sustains us with His hidden treasures of darkness.
Isaiah 45:3 “And I will give you the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places……”
Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, help us to develop sensitivity to finding You, our eternal joy, in every dark circumstance and trial until it becomes a lifestyle, bringing glory to Your name. Amen.
Photo by Sebastian Unrau on Unsplash
