The photographer entered his dark room, his arthritic hands fumbling for the door best they could. He flipped on the safe light and painstakingly began the process of bringing life to a blank page. It was a painstakingly slow process; one made slower from the age that had bent and swollen his joints. Thousands of images had been prepared in this varied room, representing wedding, births, violence and peace. Each picture had a story, and he remembered every one, although he found it difficult to remember the simplest things these days. He knew most photographers chose to use digital photography; it was easier and cheaper. He didn't blame them, but he clung to that dark room like a shrine. It was his place of creativity, and his prayer closet. For each picture he developed, he prayed for each subject not knowing exactly for what he was praying. He only knew God called him to this room to pray for someone who needed help. As the images appeared and he slowly took each photograph through its different stages, he always thought how wonderful a life could become by being processed in a dark room.
There are times in our life we don't understand the darkness around us. We don't know why we are being held in the dark room where it seems we cannot possibly survive. We question God and pray, but wonder if our prayers are even heard. We don't know how long we will be in the dark room where the days seem to be endless. But it is in the dark room that our inner heart is refined and developed, just as a roll of film. We must have our times in the darkroom to sharpen and enhance our image … which slowly begins to resemble Jesus. In darkness, God formed the earth. It was in darkness that Eve was created just for Adam. It was a darkness that could be felt when God ordained the first Passover. It was in darkness, too, that Jesus died upon the cross; so that God “delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love” (Col 1:13).
When you find yourself in the dark room, remember that a beautiful picture is being developed; we merely have to hold on and trust in God. Out of the dark rooms of your life, something beautiful is being developed.