Out of the Darkness

 

“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

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John‬ ‭8‬:‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“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

God takes us out of the darkness and into the light. He is light, in Him there is no darkness at all. He blesses abundantly.

“And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭9‬:‭8 NIV


The struggle is real, the darkness is real. And it can feel so dark. Yet He calls us into the light….why then does it  feel sometimes that I am not in the light at all. Key word-feel. We are not to live by how we feel. The pain of the now, the weight of existence can feel unbearable. There it is again….feel. Learning to live by truth and telling my flesh again He gives all that we need to abound in every good work.

  I am reminded of when Jesus literally cried blood in the garden…initially I think of Him crying out to God, knowing He was going  to die, afraid to suffer because He knew what was coming “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”Luke‬ ‭22‬:‭42‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Then I am quickly pulled into the place of understanding how MUCH He knew…He was bearing not only the suffering to come but also the weight of this existence…the weight of now. The weight of the sin, our sin, that was surrounding Him. The weight of the knowledge that God would soon turn His face from Him as He bore the sin of mankind. THAT kind of knowing.

Knowing intimately the horribly sad state we are all in…WE, what He created for good works. Us, His people in the likeness of Him, He created us, and said “This is very good.”

 Oh the knowledge of what we had become! So far removed from the Father….away from where He reigns with truth and justice and peace and love…we had rebelled…so far away…..in utter darkness. He was here….with us…bearing with us….this sad dark place. THAT kind of knowing. And He cried out, literally blood for us ready to bear the burden to bring us into the light. He did that for us, forever. It is done. His love is unmeasurable!

The truth is we were not created for this place. We were created to be with Him. And as we grow in our faith the soul yearns and groans for more of Him more and more and more of Him. 

God says we will suffer in this life. But He promised He will never leave or forsake us. Sometimes that is just it, we are longing for Him, so, so deeply.

 As we live it can be so painful. We can feel so broken to a point that it seems unbearable. But “The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.” Proverbs‬ ‭4‬:‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

He is growing us, He is growing us for our good. 

“They (our earthly fathers) disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.” Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We just have to hold on, knowing who He is. He is for our good.  God keeps His promises. We must turn this  longing into praise and prayer. Keep the vices at bay, call on His name alone. Deny the flesh until the seed that He has planted takes root and grows into something of strength. Something that can endure.

 He asks us to find joy in suffering and even if the joy is just the simple truth that He lives and He will never leave us or forsake us, that is a GREAT JOY! Suffering proves He is working to refine the heart and that He is bringing us from death to life. That is an overwhelming joy.

“Trouble and distress have come upon me, but your commands give me delight.” Psalms‬ ‭119‬:‭143‬ ‭NIV‬

I cry out to you my maker, creator of all things. Take my life and make of me what you have always planned. I will hang on because I know you are good, and nothing is impossible for you. You will give the ability to endure so that we learn from each suffering. Thank you for your abounding love and mercy, my soul longs, aches for you. Come quickly Lord. Your will be done in my life and in all things. Amen.

“One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.” Psalms‬ ‭27‬:‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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