Forest Darkroom

Welcome to this encouragement from Our Daily Bread. Our reading today is titled, Forest Dark Room, and it was written by Tim Gustafson. The Army wouldn't give Tony Vaccaro a chance as a photographer, but that didn't stop him. Between terrifying moments of dodging artillery shells and shrapnel that seemed to rain from the trees, he took pictures anyway. Then, as his friends slept, he used their helmets to mix the chemicals to develop his film.

The nighttime forest became the dark room in which Vaccaro created a timeless record of World War II's Battle of Hurtgen Forest. King David lived through his share of battles and dark times. 2 Samuel 22 says, The Lord delivered David from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. David used those experiences to produce a record of God's faithfulness. He said, Waves of death swirled about me.

The torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. David soon pivoted from desperation to hope. In my distress I called to the Lord, he recalled. From his temple he heard my voice. David made certain to praise God for his unfailing help. The Lord turned my darkness into light, he said.

With your help, I can advance against the troop. With my God, I can scale a wall. David turned his difficulties into an opportunity to tell the world about his faithful God.

We can do the same. After all, we rely on the one who turns darkness into light. The scripture reading for today's devotional is from 2 Samuel 22 verses 1 through 7 and then also verses 29 and 30. David sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said, The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer. My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my Savior.

From violent people you save me. I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise and have been saved from my enemies. The waves of death swirled about me. The torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. The cords of the grave coiled around me.

The snares of death confronted me. In my distress, I called to the Lord. I called out to my God. From his temple he heard my voice.

My cry came to his ears. And now here's verses 29 and 30. You Lord are my lamp. The Lord turned my darkness into light.

With your help, I can advance against a troop. With my God, I can scale a wall. Would you pray with me? Dear God, help us to see the many ways you protect and help us especially when it's the darkest of nights. Fill us with hope and peace during the dark times as we hold tightly to you. Thank you, Lord. It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Thanks so much for listening today. I'm Stephen Tabor and today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries.