Pushes past my sight, my secrets, into the back corners of my mind.
Winding its way through my thoughts, through my dreams.
Curling around my heart and binding it closed with a latch.
The darkness comes without warning and threatens.
Collapsing to my knees, I need You.
I turn my eyes to the clouds in desparation.
Why does the Light seem so out of reach for so many? Why can't they see Him?
Take a look around you. What do you see? Darkness.
Sex is the norm. One of the most personal and intimate things intended for marriage has been twisted and abused.
Beauty is expected. Not the pure natural beauty of the heart, soul, and mind, but external, impossible perfection that is driving girls' hearts off the edge of a cliff.
Selfish ambition drives our lives forward. Tunnel vision to the goals of our own heart instead of the needs of those crying out for the Light.
Peoples' appearance objectified. Women and men are seen as shiny objects to drool over, not as human beings made in the image of God.
Dating has become fleeting. Reckless and quick, a bat of the eyes, a smile, and you're in a relationship, ready to surrender your heart.
Beyond the societal things, I see deep-rooted pain. I have seen a darkness.
Beneath the jokes, the laughter, and the smiles are people who have been scarred. Clinging to external beauty, to reputations and stereotypes they've accepted as their identity, tucking away real feelings because others don't seem to care beyond the surface.
Their eyes reflect the shadows they have dwelled in, the darkness they have seen. Slapping on a smile and a calm exterior, their hearts rage on without healing waters to calm them. They buy into the lies of our society, their friends, this world. That they don't deserve to be loved, they aren't beautiful enough, they aren't capable.
Their souls cry out in longing for shelter from the storm but they've been left out in the rain.
Some claim to know God, go to church, say a prayer before eating, and celebrate Christmas yet they don't know Him. He is the backdrop of their lives, not the reason. They continue this life as a confused race, not truly knowing where the finish line is or what they're even running towards.
They continue their journey in the valley of darkness without seeing that there is a God who has walked beside them since the day they stepped onto the Earth. Cold and alone, their steps echo in the valley.
"Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me." [Psalm 23:4-5]
They do not know the hope when the world casts shadows on their hearts and darkness resides.
Yesterday, I was in my kitchen walking through when something caught my eye.
"Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light."-Helen Keller
I could choose to walk alone. I could wake up every morning, do a devotional, go to church, worship, and have a little tight knit group of friends. That was I did before. That was so easy.
I don't have to reach out to those who are struggling. I'm not required to stand up for God in conversations. I don't really have to seek out people who are wandering and lost. I don't need to step into the darkness with friends to show them out when they've made bad choices or have found themselves stuck. I could continue my walk in the Light basking in it, soaking up its warmth all for myself but that is not how Christ walked. Out of Love, I choose a different path.
"Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." -Ephesians 5:14
I want to wake up my heart to the reality that I only have one life and one chance to show the world who Christ is.
I want to reach into the darkness and bring people out.
I want people to know the truth and to recognize the darkness of the world for what it is. Though this isn't the norm, I am not letting up. God has chosen me for a reason to further His kingdom in the lives of those around me. God's power is so much deeper than anything His creation can thrust in your path and I know He has given me strength to carry it out.
We are expected to follow.
We're expected to fall into step with the crowds, talk like them, walk like them, believe this is all there is.
We're expected to fix our eyes on the next two steps in front of us as we stumble through the dark with flickering lamps as our guides and not onto the golden path God is unraveling.
I have news for you.
His truth will show you where to go. His Light will be your personal guide to the life you're meant for.
| |||
Looking upwards, I see the sky.
I look to the clouds and I am overcome by the Light. Splitting through the black skies, I can see with clarity the reason for life, the reason I was placed here. I am overwhelmed by the God who has called me to be set apart for Him, to show people that the darkness will not reign over this world if we raise our lights high to light their way.
[1 John 2:8]
"At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining..."
The darkness is breaking.
God's people are rising up, reigniting the ultimate hope that our hearts have received. Many peoples' eyes have been filled with the light, their hearts embracing His unfathomable love and mercy that rains down on bowed heads and bended knees. The ways of the world are being broken and the candles of His people are illuminating the truth of His promises.
John 15:18-21 says,
“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you... If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you... because they do not know Him who sent Me."
You will be questioned for choosing a different path. You'll be called out by others, but only because God called you out to be all for Him.
Peoples' opinions of you may change. They may choose to walk away when your life begins to look radically different than the world's and that's okay, because one day they'll see even if it isn't right away.
Stop underestimating Jesus to bring people back, to show them home.
Pray for open doors, for hearts to be softened, for more opportunities to shine His light. Shove the darkness back into the depths of Hell where it belongs.
Show people by being a symbol of hope.
Build friendships out of love for Christ and show them who He is by loving them through it all.
By loving them through their flaws, their mistakes, their actions, their misgivings.
Build them up in love, inspire them, show them who you choose to live for.
You think God won't plant seeds? Think again. People notice kindness, grace, and love. Those are the things that will begin building up their hope in this life once again.
His grace should not be wasted on our lives alone and this is our only chance to show them. We have been chosen to pass it on in love and fearlessly, that is what I am going to do.
"Can't spend my whole life wastin' everything I know I've been given, 'Cause you've made for so much more than sitting on the side lines..."-Mandisa
This darkness stands no chance against the God of Light who will never cease to shine. We may be surrounded by darkness but our Light is already shining, waiting to be exposed.
You're the Hope to the hopeless
You're the Peace to the restless
You are
For greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done in this City
Greater thing have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done in this City"
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