Vision and Darkness

Genesis 15:12 (Amplified Bible)
When the sun was setting, a deep sleep overcame Abram, and a horror (a terror, a shuddering fear) of great darkness assailed and oppressed him.


Many times in life, God will give a Christian a vision, a promise of sorts. When that happens, it is our job to be still and know that He is God, and know that it will all happen in His time. We have to realize that everything does not happen in our time, God's timing most times are not ours, but when it does happen it always is better than when we wanted it to happen. The story of Abram, Sarai and Hagar in Genesis 16 is a great example of what happens when one tries to jump ahead of God and do things on their own time. "Whenever God gives a vision to a Christian, it is as if He puts him in "the shadow of His hand" (Isaiah 49:2). The saint’s duty is to be still and listen." Sometimes when God makes us wait, it is to teach us discipline in an area of our lives. During these times we must be ground ourselves in Him and stay grounded in Him.
(Isaiah 50:10-11--10)Who is among you who [reverently] fears the Lord, who obeys the voice of His Servant, yet who walks in darkness and deep trouble and has no shining splendor [in his heart]? Let him rely on, trust in, and be confident in the name of the Lord, and let him lean upon and be supported by his God.11)Behold, all you [enemies of your own selves] who attempt to kindle your own fires [and work out your own plans of salvation], who surround and gird yourselves with momentary sparks, darts, and firebrands that you set aflame!--walk by the light of your self-made fire and of the sparks that you have kindled [for yourself, if you will]! But this shall you have from My hand: you shall lie down in grief and in torment.)
When God makes us wait we need to discipline ourselves and ask , "do we trust in our own flesh or will we trust in the One who has it all in control?" We need to put ourselves in the hand of the Almighty, the El-Shaddai, Genesis 17:1--WHEN ABRAM was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, I am the Almighty God; walk and live habitually before Me and be perfect (blameless, wholehearted, complete). God makes us wait and disciplines us so that we will know beyond a shadow of a doubt that He is real and true. As soon as we grasp this truth and know He is the real and true one, everything and everyone else pales in comparison to Him. If we are completely steadfast and built upon God, nothing that others do or say can ever upset us.

("My Utmost for His Highest"- Oswald Chambers)