Thank You Father, for this devotional being developed in the darkroom, may it bless every heart and eye that sees it today, in Jesus Name!
Matthew 6:6 NKJV~ “But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”
Have you ever felt invisible, as though the progress you’re making or the struggles you’re enduring go unnoticed? Be encouraged: what’s unseen by others is not unseen by God. Just as a seed germinates in the hidden depths of the soil before bursting forth into the sunlight, so too does the Lord’s work in you blossom at the appointed time.
Let’s talk about what happens when a photographer goes into the darkroom! When a photographer develops film, the process doesn’t happen in the glare of bright light but in the still, dark confines of the darkroom. It’s in that unseen space where hidden details emerge, shadows blend into substance, and the artist’s work becomes visible. The darkroom isn’t a place of chaos or neglect it’s a space of intentionality, precision, and transformation. Likewise, God’s work in your life may unfold outside of public eyes, it is going to happen in the quiet and private spaces where only He can see you!
Our scripture is the prelude into the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13) and it is there to remind you that your growth, transformation, and connection to the God thrives in those unseen moments of prayer and devotion. What’s done in secret is your place of intimacy with God. When you pray, close the door. This directive implies more than physical separation from the world; it is telling you to shut out distractions, quiet your restless mind, and meet God heart-to-heart. The unseen room, whether it’s a real space or a still moment in your day, becomes the sacred ground where God’s love holds you and molds you!
What is cultivated in secret carries the greatest reward; (this is not about man’s award to you) this is about God and what Rewards He has just for you! In those quiet places, you will discover that the holding power of God’s Word is greater than the pressures of this world! When you choose to prioritize your unseen communion with your Father, He aligns your desires with His purpose, (Philippians 2:13!) He strengthens you for the public battles and blesses you in ways far beyond what you could imagine.
Sometimes, though, the waiting can feel long, and the unseen work can feel heavy. But it is during these seasons that God wants you to take heart to what is said in the Word, Galatians 6:9: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Trust that God’s timeline is perfect, and His plans for you, though hidden now, will bear fruit in due season! The work that God has begun in secret is a promise of the abundant harvest to come to come into your life! So, remember 1 Peter 5:6-7: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” In your hidden moments, know that you are never alone; God cares deeply and is always at work!
So, when you feel like you are having a darkroom moment, ask God to help you be still and not fidget, just know that He is shaping you and your faith for the journey ahead! You need to be intentional during this time and seek God in prayer and stillness. You also need to trust God completely of every area of your life that you feel is being hidden or you are uncertain of it! God is holding you in the secret place! Trust the work that He is doing in you in your secret place! You’re hidden, but you are being held in the Hands of God! Just imagine how you are going to look and feel when He finishes developing you!
Let’s Pray:
Thank You Father! Thank You Father, for allowing me another day! Thank You for seeing me, even in the quietest and most hidden parts of my life. Father forgive me for not trusting You in the darkroom when and where You were developing me for my destiny! Father, help me to trust Your work in those unseen places of my heart. Teach me to rest in Your Presence, and to receive Your Peace and to know that You are holding and transforming me into the who and what You’ve called me to be! Father, strengthen and stir up my faith when I’m tempted to doubt, and give me the patience to wait for Your perfect timing. Father, help me to fully surrender all of my anxieties to You, trusting in Your care and provision as my one and only true Provider! Father, may my time spent in secret with You overflow into a life that glorifies You publicly. Father, grant me the courage to trust You even when I don’t understand the process, knowing that You are working all things out for Your Glory and for my good. Father, and most importantly help me to remember that the hidden work that You are doing in my heart will one day bring me home to You and for Your Glory. In Jesus Christ Name. Amen!
Blessings…
Love, Minister Jean
