The Darkroom - Ecclesiastes 7

“Better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for that is the end of all men; and the living will take it to heart (Ecclesiastes 7:2-3).” While reading this chapter, God transported me back to a period of my life, early 2020. Recently turning 21, I thought the world was at my fingertips. Good start in my barbering career, new car, young, healthy, having fun and running amuck, I mean I thought I figured life out. Then I lost some special people in my life and death was all that I saw. Not to mention a global shutdown due to Covid. Everything joyful was now dreadful. As the sun was bright and beautiful, sadness hung its veil over my mind. Like a hypnotist snaps his fingers, I forgot the pleasantries of life. I was so sad. But you know what, the only thing I was able to do was look up at the sky 4-5 in the morning and ask God if He was real, and if He was real, show me because I felt my time on earth was coming to an end as my friends. 

In great darkness, I sought light. 

It’s easier to see a source of light in a dark room compared to a well-lit one. Sometimes God allows us to be in that darkroom; sometimes we put ourselves in there. And it’s a horrible feeling. A room saturated with darkness and you’re in the middle of it. How many horror films have scenes in a darkroom with only redlights on as an innocent victim is getting hunted down by the serial killer? Eerie. Haunting. Claustrophobic. Vulnerable. Downright uncomfortable. But,  

Take a good look at God’s work. Who could simplify and reduce Creation’s curves and angles to a plain straight line? On a good day, enjoy yourself; on a bad day, examine your conscience. God arranges for both kinds of days so that we won’t take anything for granted (Ecclesiastes 7:13-14 MSG). 

You might not like it, but I must say it: even the darkroom has purpose. For printing photographs, you need a darkroom. The paper used for photos are so sensitive to light that any exposure can damage the quality of the outcome. But for the person developing the film, they can use certain light to their advantage and illuminate parts of the photo as they please. In the darkroom of our lives, God wants to single out parts that need light. In 2020, it wasn’t only one part of my life needing light, but my all of it. It wasn’t the first time I was in a darkroom, but the first time I was with Jesus in there. And it hasn’t been my last.

Solomon ends the chapter with, “Truly, this only I have found: that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes (Ecclesiastes 7:29).” Ever since the garden of Eden, man sought things other than God. All throughout scripture we see people idolize things other than God. When we go through trials and tribulations, God uses His light to expose idols and cause them to fall. What may get highlighted is what our hearts are after, or what we go to for relief and comfort. Is it God? Is it food? Porn? A person? Power? Comfort? Status? A feeling? Security? The list goes on and on.

C.S. Lewis’ A Grief Observed reflects on his journey of losing his wife and how it affected his life and his relationship with God so greatly. In chapter 3 he refers to his faith as “a house of cards,” and it took God knocking that house down for C.S. to realize what/where his faith was. Everyone’s journey is different, but God is not only for you, but is for constant, deep relationship with you and Him. As Jesus sought God’s will in the garden of Gethsemane, seek God in your darkroom, and the rest will follow. This might not change your current circumstance, but I pray how you go about your circumstance changes.

1 Peter 5:10 NIV

And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.