When life looks the bleakest, the power of Christ shines the brightest. It’s in these dark moments where we see our desperate need for Jesus more clearly. His power to strengthen us becomes most evident.
But, sometimes it takes awhile to see it.
On days when I lay in bed curled up and weeping, I struggle to see brightness. Darkness consumes, sucking out my ability to see His light.
Ever want to stay hidden under the blankets? Yeah, me too.
A whirlwind of emotions buries me. The enemy taunts and my mind is filled with thoughts that could take me down further. I’m tempted to give up because it seems there is nothing better than hiding in comfort and sadness.
But it’s not true and there is hope. There is truth to consider and it’s time to do so today, whether life is bleak or bright.
I’ve never been, and never will be, buried in unreachable places where God’s hand cannot go. Neither are you when circumstances overwhelm.
No matter how dark a situation may seem, God is at work. Sometimes it takes these dark places for the seeds of faith sown deep in our souls to sprout and grow.
Covered in Darkness
You might feel covered by dirt. The weight of earth might feel heavy, but as a believer in Christ you have the presence of God with you. You are not discarded. You are not useless. You are a vessel of our great God and King.
It’s a wild thought isn’t it?
God in you.
“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” I Corinthians 3:16
God with you.
“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” Zephaniah 3:17
Anytime the darkness covers, we can live brave by the power and presence of God. We can let God’s truth nourish our souls in ways that help faith grow roots and shoots.
Can you see it now? I can! And it makes me smile for me and for you.
Faith Found in Deep Places
I’m guessing you’ve spent time in God’s Word before, even if it’s not as as often as you feel it should be. Somewhere inside of you the Hope of Christ was planted in you and you want it grow, even when you can’t see how it will.
I like to think of hard moments as an opportunity. Sure, it may seem odd. But this mindset stops the destructive cycle and fights the enemy’s hold.
We get to choose to live as if we believe what God’s word says. About who we are, about who He is, and how He’s Lord over all the earth. All of it. He is King over all people. All situations.
We get to choose not to live in defeat. When we feel defeated we need reminders that we are not. Then, we get to tell the enemy to back off, because we belong to God. No matter what.
On the truth of God’s Word we dare stand.
Being brave in darkness looks like choosing small seeds of faith. Choosing to live what we believe and not give up.
We Cannot Be Snatched Away
We can not be snatched away from God once we are His. Do you know this?
“I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” John 10:28
Choose to believe it. Stand in His word and truth today. If you don’t feel strong enough to do so, what would help you? Worship music? Prayer? Guttural cries to God? Silent moments asking fo God to speak? Journaling? Prayer with a friend? Perhaps, all the above. Or one today and another tomorrow.
I don’t always live as if I’m sure God’s got me and sometimes I find it hard to remember. When anxiety or sadness cover, it’s all I can do to groan a prayer of desperation.
There is hope for these sacred moments of expressed emotions, no matter how messy there are.
God hears even the smallest, faintest, wildest, most guttural cries. The Spirit interprets it. This seed of faith is sown in the fertile ground of choosing to trust God. It’s one step that helps propel another step.
Goodness, I’m thankful God can take my weak utterances and understand them. Even more, that He cares for them.
Finding Hope in Darkness
I have playlists with soul-soothing worship music (songs that aren’t overdone on radio stations). Artists like Sara Groves, Audrey Assad, Leeland, Elevate Worship, through their heart poured out, my faith sprouts again. When I think I can’t worship God on my own, the small step of choosing Him in some way makes a difference.
God is always calling us towards Him. Just as the earth’s gravitational pull tells a plant which way is up, the Holy Spirit speaks to our hearts calling us to look up. If we’re listening and willing, seeds of faith will break through the coldest and toughest ground in search of more light.
For me, this looks likes like prayer, worship, reading God’s Word, praying with others, and remembering simple truths like, “God is good.”
What does it look like for you, friend? How does the Spirit give you strength in dark times?
What’s Planted in You
If you’ve spent time in God’s word before, you have seeds already planted within you. Maybe you’re waiting for them to grow. Maybe God’s waiting on you to act on the nourishment he’s already provided.
I don’t know about y’all, but I have days of laughter and days of tears. Some seasons bring more of one than the other. It’s easy to dismiss the harder days, especially when they aren’t what we feel today. But, the work we do with God now, in good times and bad, plants seeds for faith to grow later.
The choices we make today prepare the soil for our future. What we cultivate in our hearts today, prepares our souls for faith in the days ahead.
Each step may begin in utterly small ways, but small choices are seeds of faith. These seeds are full of abundant life potential because they are nourished by God’s endless source of life and goodness.
I can’t wait to see what springs forth in you, dear one. No matter how dark today, or yesterday, has been, God is with you.
What choice will you make today to nourish the seeds within you?
This was beautifully encouraging. Thank you!
Love this, Jolene. So nice to get to know you better through the Rise Up Writers webinars!