“See times of darkness as opportunities for My Light to shine in transcendent splendor” – #jesuscalling

(Sarah Young)

Psalm 143 offers an excellent description of what the abovementioned “darkness” means…it is clearly an enemy that seeks to keep a person imprisoned.

This “enemy” or darkness has many faces…in someone I love so dearly and completely as my own, it was the unwelcome guest of suicidal depression.

In my friend, it is metastatic cancer.

In myself, it is anxiety and fear of things I cannot control that is hurting me, hurting those I love, or has the potential to hurt someone I care immensely for.

It looks like grief.

It is chronic illness and physical pain.

It is marital trouble.

It looks like addiction that is robbing the life out of so many people that are not much different than you and me.

Here is what King David says about his enemy:

Vs3

For the enemy has persecuted me, he has crushed my life down to the ground;

He has made me dwell in dark places, like those who have been long dead.

Therefore, my spirit is OVERWHELMED and WEAK within me [as if wrapped in darkness]];

My heart grows numb within me.

If you have ever been wrapped in darkness this sounds familiar doesn’t it?

The hope I find in this passage is in David’s demands…

Vs 7 ANSWER ME QUICKLY for my spirit fades.DO NOT HIDE YOUR FACE FROM ME…

Vs 8 LET ME HEAR OF YOUR LOVINGKINDNESS…for I trust You. TEACH ME the way in which I should walk…

Vs 9 RESCUE ME…

Vs 10 TEACH ME to do Your will…LET YOUR GOOD SPIRIT LEAD ME ON LEVEL GROUND.

I don’t know about you, but level ground is what I crave most days! Not the rocky, uneven, Michigan-sized pothole filled roads of trial, pain, and adversity….

Vs 11 SAVE MY LIFE…BRING MY LIFE OUT OF TROUBLE…

Saving the best for last….

Vs 12 SILENCE AND DESTROY MY ENEMIES…DESTROY ALL THOSE WHO AFFLICT MY LIFE.

I am thankful to have my secure footing founded in One who has defeated the grave and has already claimed His victory over the enemy…

In the battle over what threatens to over take me, the light is shining from the promise of that victory.

I cling to that Light.