Shine Brilliantly

I am not sure who wrote the following article, other than it being a woman from Sullivan County, NY. It was in the local newspaper and my mother was kind enough to pass it along to me in the mail.

"I have read that the most precious and expensive jewels are displayed against a backdrop of black material so that when light shines upon them they appear to shine most brilliantly. They are best showcased in darkness.
Many times we may feel plunged into darkness as we experience the trials and tribulations, the sorrows and suffering and pain of life. I'm sure that's how Job must have felt. He was a very wealthy man who was God-fearing, upright and blameless. He suddenly lost everything he had - his ten children, his numerous herds, and finally his health. His wealth was reduced to nothing, and as he sat in the ash heap nursing his wounds, the darkness was closing in.
But Job knew God would never forsake him, and he continued to talk to Him about what was happening. He says in Job 23:17, 'Yet I am not silenced by the darkness, by the thick darkness that covers my face.'
He came to the conclusion that, 'when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.' (Job 23:10).
When precious jewels are displayed in darkness, a light shines above them, causing them to shine and sparkle more brightly. When we find ourselves enveloped in darkness, we must keep our focus on the Lord, our source of light. If we look away, all will remain dark. But as we look to the light, we shine more brightly as God's light is reflected in us.
"For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made His light shine in our hearts...we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed" (2 Corinthians 4:6-9).
The darkness that God allows in our lives to showcase us in not an evil that will ultimately destroy us, but a darkness in which we may draw attention to the light within and let God shine through us. When the darkness has finished its work, we will come forth as gold. If we do not fight against the darkness, but learn from it and let God work in and through us, it will be removed when it has completed its purpose.
Job remained faithful to the Lord during this time of great darkness, even defending God to others. When the time was complete, Job had a better understanding of who God was and God removed the darkness.
All was restored to Job, and even multiplied. He had ten more children, and his herds and wealth were doubled. 'The Lord blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the first' (Job 42:12). Never give up on God, no matter how dark things look. He is faithful to see us through."