I am thinking about how natural darkness and spiritual darkness are similar. I was once in a cave. Once everyone had gathered together, the tour guide turned off all the lights. The darkness was very overwhelming. In the absence of any light, you could not even see your own hand in front of your face.
Most of us don’t live in caves. At night, there is still some light to help guide us. There are some things true about the darkness. In the dark, we cannot see. In the dark, we may not know where to place our next step. In the dark we can become confused and disoriented. In the dark, we can stumble and fall over simple obstacles. In the dark, we find it difficult to move forward and achieve the goals and arrive at the destination we have in mind.
There are seasons of our lives when we may feel like we are in a spiritual darkness. We may feel confused and uncertain. We may fall down. We may be in pain and wounded. We know what we want from our lives, but cannot seem to do anything that gets there. We do not know what to trust and where to place our next steps.
In the darkness there is one thing that is still true. “In him (Jesus) was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood (overtaken) it. ” (John 1:4–5, NIV) There is always a source of light when we find ourselves in darkness. This light is Jesus. Jesus said “I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. ” (John 12:46, NIV)
Here is the answer for the darkness in your life. First, look at Jesus. As you look upon Him, you will see His light. Second, go to Jesus. Enter into a relationship with Him. Believe Him, trust Him, follow Him, obey Him.
Even as Christians, there are times in our lives where we feel the darkness and we feel alone. We may feel oppressed and depressed. We may become sick. We may be tired. We may be confused and questioning the circumstances around us.
That is the time once again to gaze once more upon Jesus. In the darkness we must stop looking at the circumstances and once again look at the light. “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. ” (1 John 1:5, NIV)
So when I find myself in darkness, when I am confused and depressed, this is what I do to come into God’s light. I will read the Word of God and I will keep reading until I find something that may apply to the challenge I am in. When I find something in the Word, I begin to pray and ask God to make it real to me. I will confess any areas of unbelief and come to God with utter honesty. I will tell God, that right now my life and His Word are not in agreement. I will tell God that I do not know what needs to change. I will ask God to change my life until my life reflects agreement with His Word and His promises. I will stay in this place of prayer until something changes.
Yes it make take some time. It takes time to read the Word. It takes time to spend with God and learn to receive light that transforms your darkness. However, I know that this works. Don’t ever quit following the light. Do not spend your time focusing on the darkness.
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