A Message from Patty at He Said What?!
A couple months ago I looked out our kitchen window above our sink. And there, to my dismay, was a tunnel web built by a hard-working spider. The web was between our window and the screen.
Now spiders and I don’t get along too well. Yet, despite my instinct to get rid of that spider and his web, I had a degree of respect for his hard work and so I let him stay.
He was very industrious. He built his web larger and longer as time went by. One recent day, as Gary worked outside, he decided to use his blower to get rid of the web and hopefully the spider. Good-bye spider. Time to go!
But the next morning I went to the window and there was a fresh new web. That spider had worked during the dark night to rebuild his web and start over. Impressive, I must say.
I thought of this as I remembered a devotional I had read not long ago from Streams in the Desert. The author talked about how the children of Israel came to the Red Sea after God led them out of Egypt. Their situation seemed hopeless at that point.
But God sent a strong east wind all that night and caused the sea to part. He gave a cloud that provided light and led the Israelites through the sea on dry land.
All seemed lost, but God worked in the night. The dark didn’t stop Him.
Our dark times don’t stop God, either. We may not see what He is doing but He has not quit working His best in our lives during the dark times.
In fact, it’s during those times when I can’t see Him working that my trust in Him has grown.
I don’t have to see His work to trust that He IS working.
If my trust depends on my sight, then I’m not trusting Him. I’m trusting what I can see.
In the morning, I saw how hard our spider worked during the night.
Likewise, someday I’ll see how hard God has worked in my dark times.
“For You light my lamp; the Lord my God illumines my darkness.” (Psalm 18:28)
*************************
I liked this post so much, I had to repost it! Thanks, Patty!
In His Love, Cindy
To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic
The Lord appeared to Abram and said, … “I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you…” Genesis 17:7 (emphasis mine)
RealChristianWomen.blog
What an excellent analogy by you, Patty – thank you sister! And thank you Cindy for being wise and gracious in sharing it here. It appears that this is today’s message across many places today; read David Duncan’s post to see more of this message. It never fails to amaze me how our Father God continually works in our lives, through the light and dark times – what an amazing God we serve! God bless both you sisters today 🙏
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you for sharing, Cindy. Blessings to you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Blessings!
LikeLike
Cindy, I tried to leave a comment several times on your blog but I don’t think WP would let me, for some strange reason. Or it may have posted it multiple times. Who knows? 🙂 Anyway, thank you for sharing my blog. God bless you, my friend.
Love, Patty
>
LikeLiked by 1 person
I haven’t found it. Maybe because my Internet has been acting up!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I did just now your above comment and that mine I emailed you was posted. Technology is difficult sometimes. Blessings, my friend.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You can say that again! I’ve been having a lot of trouble with my Internet. It seems better today. 🧐
LikeLiked by 1 person
Patty, Be sure and read the comments on my repost of “Working in the Dark”.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cindy, this reflection carries a quiet strength that feels exactly like the truth you’re pointing to. The spider’s persistence is such a simple picture, yet it becomes a doorway into something far deeper — the way God works in the hours and seasons when we see nothing, feel nothing, and assume nothing is happening. Your connection to the Red Sea moment is perfect: Israel stood in what looked like absolute impossibility, yet God was already working “all that night,” shaping deliverance in the dark.
What stands out most is your reminder that trust isn’t built by watching God work, but by believing He is working when we can’t see a thing. That’s the kind of faith Scripture keeps calling us into — not sight‑based reassurance, but relationship‑based confidence. And Psalm 18:28 is such a fitting anchor: He doesn’t just light our path; He illumines our darkness. Even the places that feel empty or confusing become the very spaces where His faithfulness is quietly at work.
Thank you for sharing Patty’s story and adding your own gentle wisdom to it. It’s a needed encouragement — a reminder that someday we’ll look back and see the “fresh new web” of God’s work woven through nights we thought were silent.
In His light, even the dark becomes holy ground.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Patty’s story encouraged my faith and I wanted to share it with my readers.
“Even the places that feel empty or confusing become the very spaces where His faithfulness is quietly at work.” Amen! Blessings, Michael!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is so good, “Our dark times don’t stop God, either. We may not see what He is doing but He has not quit working His best in our lives during the dark times. In fact, it’s during those times when I can’t see Him working that my trust in Him has grown. I don’t have to see His work to trust that He IS working. If my trust depends on my sight, then I’m not trusting Him. I’m trusting what I can see.”
LikeLiked by 2 people
Amen!!! Thank you, Mary, for adding your encouraging words to the post. God bless you!
LikeLiked by 1 person