I shuddered a bit last night as I snuggled my baby in her rocking chair. Her night light had burned out the night before, so it was extra dark right after walking in there from the lit up half of the house.
As I swayed in the chair with a content and sleepy baby, I felt the weight of the darkness for a minute. It’s been one of those weeks where the darkness of this world has made its presence known in an overwhelming way. From news headlines to personal trials, from brokenhearted friends to those searching for love, it’s been a week laden with reminders that the enemy is very much at work. There’s a war waging around us, and some of its battles seem bleak and devastating.
I closed my eyes and prayed for a minute, the oppression almost more than I could bear. When I opened my eyes, He showed me something worth holding onto. Glimmers of light were beginning to become more evident as my eyes began to adjust to my surroundings. No longer was I sitting in staggering darkness, though nothing about my surroundings had actually changed.
Instead, God made my eyes able to behold just enough of His light to have hope. Just enough light to see what I needed to see to accomplish what was necessary at that time. Because if I’m honest, it’s easy for my wandering mind to get distracted when I am in bright places in my life, and sometimes God uses darkness to remind me that He is actually there. And I need to see His light in the darkness so I can regain a healthy perspective.
Praying for many sweet people today who are going through hard times. Can I pray for you, too? Please send me your prayer requests! My email is kwesterf@gmail.com.
“it’s easy for my wandering mind to get distracted when I am in bright places in my life, and sometimes God uses darkness to remind me that He is actually there” — This really resonated with me. I’ve been sitting in the darkness since April, going through a trial, and although I don’t enjoy the uncertainty of it all, I’m overwhelmed by the reminder that He is here with me, leading me towards the light.
Christy @ A Heartening Life
http://www.ahearteninglife.com
Love the thought that our surroundings don’t change, our perceptions do. The darkness can definitely be overwhelming at times.
Just enough light to see what I needed to see to accomplish what was necessary at that time.
i love that.
Ash
Thank you for this post Kelly. It brought tears to my eyes as I was reminded that God gives us hope in our moments of deep despair. Praying for you!
Well, I’m never going to think of darkness in quite the same way. Thank you. I love how you said you get distracted in the light – I do, too. I hadn’t thought of it that way before, but you are right. Bright light, an easy to navigate place, can be a distraction from the work God is actually doing. Thanks for these wise words!