That I Might Know

" I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron: and I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the Lord, which call thee by name, am the God of Israel." Isaiah 45:2 & 3

The crooked places, the gates, the bars and the darkness in our lives are all used by God that we might know Him, really know Him. He wants to deepen our relationship with Himself. It is personal. He calls us by name.
When we walk the path that is crooked and steep, a path that makes no sense at all, we can turn to God. He will make it straight. Make it into good in our lives. (Romans 8:28) A bent nail is of no use until it is straightened, a bent curtain rod doesn't do the job. These items can be straightened and used. Used to hang a beautiful picture or put up a lovely curtain. So it is with our life that is crooked and senseless. God can make something beautiful out of the crooked places in our lives as we surrender to Him.
The gates that are too big for us to maneuver through, the bars of circumstances that seem to crush us under the weight, so that it seems we can go no farther, can be conquered with the strength God has to give to us.
It is in these darkest of circumstances that we can obtain treasure from Him. Riches that will surround and strenghen our soul. These treasures will bring us closer to God and let us KNOW that He is truly God in spite of the circumstances. He longs for us to know Him, to draw up closer to Him. In doing so, we will find Him to be sufficient.
Some of the treasures that God has made dearer to my heart than ever before are:

--God is in Charge
--God is Trustworthy
--God is working in my life and the lives of my family even when I can't see Him
--God can take the worst of things and turn it around for good in my life
--God will not fail, even when all looks bleak; He has not let the situation or me slip through His
fingers.

These treasures have helped me to know that He is God and this God knows my name and will go before me all the way.