Treasures from Darkness
By: Amanda Idleman
"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
Darkness is scary, uncomfortable, and disorienting, and dark seasons of the soul are the ones that we dread most. The dark seasons we endure in our lives are usually the ones we want to forget and move past as quickly as possible. Grief, loss, and pain are feelings we don't do well as a culture, but there are treasures to be found in these uncomfortable seasons.
The Bible boldly promises that God can transform our dark moments into beauty. His light is greater than the darkness that plagues our world! His power and goodness are greater than our grief. Isaiah 45:3 declares that God will give you treasures from those dark moments; he will not waste our pain or leave us alone. What unfolds through the pressure and the struggle is precious jewels. God gives us rich blessings from those difficult, secret moments. Lessons that we can only learn through trial and error. Displays of His utter faithfulness that can only be accepted amid our pain. He meets us in the dark. Then we will know beyond a doubt that He is the Lord.
If your marriage is stuck in a dark season, if you are together, lost, covered in grief because of the many ways life is not as it should be…God invites you to look for Him even now. To cling to his promises. Search out the beauty waiting to be uncovered through this trial. To remain grateful for his love even through this loss. To be obedient to His Word even when it hurts. Remember that you are not alone and that the best is always yet to come in the life of a believer.
Don't forget that, Jesus, God incarnate, wept (John 11:35). His friend Lazarus had died, and while he knew he had returned to his home to do a miracle, he still honored the moment's sadness. Death is not how it was meant to be. Losing those we love is an unbearable pain that is only softened by the hope that Jesus alone came to offer the world.
Jesus embraced grief; he did not shy away from it. He didn't say it's all good because I know how the story ends. He cried real tears of lament, and it's okay that you also cry those same tears of despair. We were created to feel. To wade through our emotions. To learn something from all of them. Don't be afraid to feel the weight of this moment. Don't be ashamed of your process. Allow each other the freedom to navigate this challenging time.
Let's Pray
Father, thank you for the grace you pour out on us, making beauty from our ashes. The grace to redeem our darkest moments and to be with us through our losses and suffering. As a couple, Father, we ask that you would guide us. Show us how to love each other through this challenging season. Remind us of the many ways you've been faithful even through this. Help us find the treasures you have left for us to uncover through our grief. Carry us as a couple and as individuals when we don't have the strength to move forward on our own. Show us your way through the dark and teach us your path. We need you now more than ever.
Help me to support my spouse through this. Give me the strength to acknowledge their struggles, needs, and feelings. Provide for me the proper perspective required for this situation. Don't let hopelessness overcome our home; we know that there is always hope for the future with you. Allow me the patience I need for the feelings that we are walking through. Help me to remember that you grieved, and it's okay for us to grieve. Remind me that your love never fails, your grace is sufficient for our every need, and you will never leave or forsake us. Keep our hearts soft towards you. Amen.
Related Resource: 3 Simple Ways to Feed Your Spouse More Praise
How often do you intentionally stop to praise your spouse? To recognize and affirm their character or actions? Many of us probably cringe at answering these questions because we know we could do better! If you struggle to feed your spouse praise regularly, this episode is for you. Listen in as we share some practical steps we all can take to criticize less and affirm and build up our spouse more. If this episode helps your marriage, be sure to subscribe to Team Us on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode.
Originally published Tuesday, 26 August 2025.
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