He Will Meet You in the Darkness

There are moments when our minds and hearts start to wander into familiar darkness. Thoughts and feelings we have history with, that try to coerce us into taking their hand and lead us down a winding road of mental fog, overwhelmingly tall trees of doubt and leaves that drop like tears. Or it is more like a rabbit hole where we go further down into the ground that closes us in with suffocating unpleasant memories that drain every ounce of energy we could possibly muster on our own to fight for what we know to be truth from its lies. In these moments, we are tempted to embrace the darkness like a Stockholm syndrome blanket. So what should we do? What do I do?

I close my eyes, inhale these thoughts and feelings, and exhale the love and presence of Jesus. I inhale the lie, and exhale the truth. I ask the Lord of Armies to fight that battle for me, acknowledging and accepting my weakness and inability to fight in that moment. He breathes His breath of truth, life and resurrection in me and meet me there in the darkness. The sadness sits heavier on my heart, but it begins to dissolve with their spiritual blow Jesus throws. Blows of love, hope, faith, identity, made impactful by His strength and unlimited power. Where loneliness had its grip, there is the Lord’s hand. Where discouragement had its might, there is the Lord’s assurance. Where hopelessness had its control, there is the Lord’s promise.

I encourage you all to meet with Him. If He has called you to meet with Him at a divine appointment, despite the war you may be experiencing in your heart or mind, obedience to Him is the gateway to deliverance and victory by His might. You don’t have to fight, just show up and let Him take the reigns. He may bring you to one verse and suddenly, you sense and know He is with you, never left you, been fighting for you and never intended to leave you empty. Faith is built up and hope is resurrected. Even if you may not believe something specifically about a promise, I encourage you to rest on the truth of His word and consistency of His faithfulness. There are things I may not believe in and of myself about things coming to pass, but I do know that God is good and His word non-negotiable and it is in Him I place all my trust and belief.

He is my light, not His promises. So I seek Him and listen for the comfort of His voice and peace of His promise. Then, I sit, dwell, and am reminded of where I am, in His heart, protected and surrounded by everything that is Him.

This is how I survive the darkness.

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” Psalm 23:4

Prayer of Encouragement: Father God, thank you for your promise of being with each of us and never forsaking us. Whether there is darkness in our souls, battling thoughts in our mind or conflicting beliefs in our hearts, we know You will meet us wherever we are with your truth, love, strength and power. I thank you for all those you have led to this post and I pray for them during their moments of darkness. I pray Father that you make your presence known to them during those times, giving them eyes to see and recognize you. I pray that the only strength they have is enough to lean into you so that you may fight for them; then they may stand testimony and witness of your delivering might. I thank you for your saving grace, relentless love and faithful works of power on our behalf. By faith in your son Jesus’s name I pray, Amen.